Sun 12-Mar-2000

Buzzer-beater brings sudden end for UW-SP
By Jim Strick
For CW Sunday

STORM LAKE, Iowa - Sometimes a 30-game season can come down to just two seconds.

Make that 2.4 seconds to be exact.

The University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire went the length of the court in that amount of time as Sherm Carstensen drained a 26-foot three-pointer at the buzzer to end UW-Stevens Point's magical season in a 60-58 victory in Saturday's NCAA Division III sectional final.

"I'm absolutely not going to make any excuses for what this team accomplished all season," said UW-Stevens Point coach Jack Bennett, whose team's five losses came by a total of just 12 points. "This team was given no respect at the start of the year. There's no question our highlight was the entire season."

The Pointers' biggest highlight almost came with 2.4 seconds left when Joe Zuiker drained a 15-foot jumper to give UW-Stevens Point (25-5) a 58-57 lead.

However, following a full timeout, the Blugolds' Dave Mellenthin threw a long lob pass that was tipped by UW-Eau Claire's Eric Gardow and UW-Stevens Point's Brant Bailey. The ball landed in the hands of Carstensen, who took one dribble and buried the three-pointer to send the Blugolds to the national semifinals in Salem, Va., Friday.

"In all my years of coaching this is the most difficult loss I've ever been a part of," said Bennett, whose team also dropped a two-point game to Nebraska Wesleyan in the 1997 national quarterfinals. "Aside from the sudden ending, this is the greatest group of young men I've ever coached."

Making things even more difficult was the fact that after holding a one-point halftime lead, the Pointers went on a 21-4 run to open the second half and held an 18-point lead at 49-31 with 12:32 left.

However, UW-Eau Claire slowly chipped away at the deficit, holding the Pointers to three field goals the rest of the way and finishing the game with a 29-9 run. The Blugolds tied the game at 54-54 with 1:08 left on a three-pointer by Carstensen before the Pointers scored on their next possession with a layup by Bailey.

The Blugolds finally took their first lead of the second half with 19 seconds left on a three-pointer by Matt Fermanich. UW-Stevens Point patiently worked the ball to Zuiker, who drained a jumper from just behind the free-throw line for a one-point lead, setting up Carstensen's heroics.

"I was pretty confident because that one dribble helps me a lot," said Carstensen, a transfer from UW-Green Bay, who led the Blugolds with 22 points. "If I was just standing I don't think I would have had the legs (to hit the shot)."

"Let's face it, if he threw it in 100 more times, I dont think he would make it," Bennett said. "It was just a great shot."

UW-Stevens Point had a field goal by Bailey with 10:17 left and a running jumper by Brent Larson with 4:23 left before Bailey's layup in the final minute for its only baskets in the final 12 minutes.

"I think we got tentative," Bennett said. "We tried to get deep in the shot clock and just didn't get some shots to fall that would have kept the lead at a distance."

The Blugolds and Pointers split four season meetings this season decided by a total of 13 points, including two overtime games. UW-Eau Claire was also forced to play Saturday's game without all-conference center Jon Wallenfelsz, who tore his anterior cruciate ligament in Friday's semifinal win over Buena Vista.

"We wanted to play this game for Jon," said Blugolds' coach Terry Gibbons.

"It was a game we wanted to dedicate to him."

UW-Eau Claire had little defense for Bailey for much of the game as he finished with 24 points. However, Stevens Point native Ben Schneeberger held Bailey to just his one basket in the final 10 minutes of the game.

"I think at times they didn't know what we were doing defensively," Gibbons said. "I think they really got frustrated."

For the Pointers, it's the end of an 11-game winning streak and a season that saw them win both the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference regular season and tournament titles.

"Does this ache? Yes," Bennett said. "But with time we'll appreciate what this team has done over the entire season."