Storm Lake, Iowa - It doesn't always take high-flying dunks or a run-and-gun attack for a basketball team to look flashy.

Sometimes simple tough defense and crisp offense can be just as exciting.

And that's exactly what the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point men's basketball team used Friday night to reach the NCAA Division III Sectional championship game with a 63-49 victory over the University of Chicago at the Siebens Fieldhouse.

The Pointers held one of the nation's top three-point shooting teams to four-for-21 from behind the arc while also collecting assists of 16 of their 22 field goals to reach the final eight round of the tournament for the second time in four years.

"I'm very grateful to be back in this position," said Pointers' coach Jack Bennett, whose team has now won 11 straight games and reached the sectional final in its only two NCAA tournament appearances. "With a league as tough as ours, we believe we're tested and prepared to play against anyone in the nation."

The Pointers will get a chance to face a conference rival Saturday night when they meet UW-Eau Claire for a trip to the national semifinals at 7:30 p.m. The Blugolds advanced with a 82-75 overtime win over host Buena Vista in the second game.

UW-Stevens Point led 22-20 with 1:30 left in the first half when Brant Bailey hit a layup and Jay Bennett drained a three-pointer with three seconds left for a 27-20 halftime lead. The Pointers then outscored the Maroons 17-4 over the first nine minutes of the second half to take control and snap Chicago's 18-game winning streak.

"For about an eight to 10 minute span, our offense was thing of beauty," Bennett said. "We really just dissected their defense."

Meanwhile, on the other end, the Maroons were unable to convert, shooting just 29 percent in the first half (eight-for-27) and 33 percent for the game (18-for-54).

"That was brutal," Chicago coach Mike McGrath said. "I think part of it, though, was Stevens Point's defense. I thought we did a better job than expected defensively, but a worse job offensively."

"We did a marvelous job," Bennett said of the Pointers' perimeter defense. "That kind of started with the La Crosse game (in the WIAC quarterfinals). We held them down well and then Lewis & Clark (in the NCAA second round) was known for it. I think we're doing a pretty darn good job."

The Pointers opened the game offensively from outside, hitting five of 15 three-pointers in the first half, but then switched to the inside game in the second half, attempting just seven three-pointers.

"That's been our offense," Bennett said. "Our players do a nice job of getting the ball into Brant (Bailey) and then he does a nice job finding the shooters when they double-team."

Bailey tied a career high with four assists, while leading the Pointers with 18 points for the game. Gabe Frank added 15 points and Jay Bennett had 11.

Freshman Derek Reich led Chicago with 18 points, including 13 in the first half.

The Pointers also had just six turnovers with four of those coming in the first five minutes of the game.

"A lot of that is Brant," Jay Bennett said. "They pack the defense so much that you don't have to worry about them extending and getting steals."

UW-Stevens Point also benefitted from a partial home crowd that loudly cheered for the Pointers after an article that appeared in the University of Chicago student newspaper, criticizing Storm Lake and Buena Vista.

"It was nice to have that noise," Jack Bennett said. "This is a real home-like atmosphere here. I know they were against Chicago, but I think they appreciated our basketball. They were getting excited about some of the things we were doing."

The Pointers now have their sights set a victory Saturday night and a trip to Salem, Va. for the national semifinals next weekend.