The victory puts Eau Claire at 1-0 in the WIAC and 3-0 overall, while the Pointers are 1-1 in league play and 5-2 overall.

The Pointers, who trailed 46-36 with just under 13 minutes to play, forced overtime by outscoring the Blugolds 22-12 over the remainder of the half. Brent Larson's 3-pointer with 1:01 remaining tied the game at 58-58.

But the Blugolds outscored the Pointers 13-10 in the extra session, including hitting 6-of-8 free throws in the final 35 seconds.

"That was just a great college basketball game," said UW-SP coach Jack Bennett.

"There was nothing wanting in effort by both teams.

"We came in and took a team that is expected to be one of the favorites to win the conference and possibly be a team that could challenge for a national championship and went to the wire with them."

The Blugolds' Sherm Carstensen tied UW-SP's Brant Bailey and Gabe Frank for game-high honors with 21 points.

Eau Claire also got 19 points from Jon Wallenfelsz and 12 each from Matt Fermanich and Dave Mellenthin. All of Fermanich's points came in the second half, including 5-of-6 free throws in overtime.

Trailing 68-67 with 10 seconds remaining in overtime, the Pointers appeared to have a shot at a potential game-winning shot when Gabe Frank came up with a steal. But he was ruled to be on the out-of-bounds of line, giving the ball back to Eau Claire - a call that did not sit well with the Pointer coaching staff.

"I am disappointed we didn't get a chance to try to win it at the end," Bennett said. "The two officials who were right there did not make the call, but the official who was all the way out at midcourt by the Eau Claire bench called it."

Carstensen then hit a free throw with eight seconds remaining to give Eau Claire a 2-point advantage. He missed the second, but Fermanich came down with the rebound, was fouled and hit one of two fouls shots with four seconds left to seal the win.

The Pointers led by as many as seven points in the first half, but saw their advantage disappear with three seconds remaining as Carstensen drained a 3-pointer that gave the Blugolds a 33-32 halftime lead.

Carstensen had 15 points in the first half, including four 3-pointers. Frank had 11 first-half points and Bailey had 10 for UW-SP.

Eau Claire opened the second half with a 13-4 run to move ahead 46-36 with 12:53 remaining in regulation. But the Pointers fought back to send the game to overtime.

"This was a tough one to lose," Bennett said. "We played in most aspects with them and I think we proved we could compete with them. At this point of the season, I think this could be something we could learn from."

The Pointers return to WIAC action Wednesday, when they travel to UW-Superior.