Sun 12-Dec-1999

Bailey's record performance helps lift Pointers
By Denis Downey
Central Wisconsin Sunday Staff Writer

Every day in practice, Brant Bailey shoots 50 free throws.

The 6-7 senior forward from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point needed all of that training Saturday night as he turned in a record-breaking performance in the Pointers' 90-81 victory over UW-La Crosse at Quandt Fieldhouse.

Bailey went to the charity stripe an NCAA Division III single-game record 31 times and converted on a Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference record 25 free throws. He also tied the school single-game scoring record with 39 points and finished with a career-high 16 rebounds.

"I know teams are going to make it tough for me, so I have to be able to hit my free throws," said Bailey, who equaled Mike Hughes' Pointer record for points in a game, set in 1968.

"It all comes down to concentration. If I can keep my concentration, that will take care of it."

Bailey hit his first 16 free throw attempts, including going 14-of-14 in the first half.

"I was getting tired when I got up there in the second half and short-armed a couple of them," he said. "My legs were tired from running up and down the court. But then I settled down and hit them."

Bailey also put on a show away from the free throw stripe, throwing down a pair of spectacular slam dunks and finishing off an acrobatic alley-oop as he was 7-of-14 from the floor.

"Brant had the kind of night you dream of," said UW-SP coach Jack Bennett, whose team improved to 3-1 in the WIAC and 7-2 overall. "We know who our go-to guy is and so do our opponents, so it isn't easy."

Bailey was joined in double figures by forwards Gabe Frank with 18 points and Joe Zuiker points.

"Bailey had the big night, but Joe and Gabe did some things when we really needed them to," Bennett said. "Joe hit a couple of big jumpers and grabbed some big rebounds and Gabe is playing his best basketball since he got here.

He scored a real quiet 18 points."

La Crosse, 1-3 in conference, 3-5 overall, was led by Matt Schultz and Paul Manchester with 15 points, Eddie Hebert with 11 and Greg Berlin with 10.

Despite Bailey's big numbers, the victory did not come easy for the Pointers, as the Eagles used their outside game to keep it close.

"La Crosse played a whale of a game," Bennett said. "They are quick, aggressive and talented and we had to use our quickness and talent to compete with them.

"Their strength is on the perimeter. A couple of times I thought we were going to make a move, but they just have too much firepower and they wouldn't die."

The Eagles connected on 10-of-30 shots from behind the 3-point arc.

After playing to a 38-38 first-half deadlock, the Pointers started the second half with a 22-13 run to open up a nine-point bulge - 60-51 - with just under 12 minutes remaining.

But Eagles soared back with a 22-13 surge of their own to knot the game 73-73 on a 3-pointer by Tom Westhoff with five and a half minutes remaining.

But UW-SP put the game away down the stretch. Bailey scored 10 points - including hitting 6-of-7 free throws - as UW-SP outscored the Eagles 17-8 the rest of the way to secure the victory.

"Their record may not show it, but La Crosse is a very good team," Bennett said. "(Coach) Charlie Gross has them playing with a lot of intensity. They play hard and they play well. This was a very tough victory for us."

The Pointers will face Viterbo College of La Crosse in a non-conference tilt Friday at 7 p.m. at Quandt Fieldhouse.

UW-LA CROSSE (81) - Dicklitch 2-8 4-4 8, Hebert 5-12 0-1 11, Berlin 4-5 2-2 10, Manchester 5-14 1-2 15, Schultz 6-16 0-0 15, Flores 2-7 1-2 6, Westhoff 2-7 2-2 7, Petsche 0-0 0-0 0, Madsen 3-3 1-2 7, Sekeres 1-2 0-0 2.

Totals: 30-74 11-15 81.

UW-STEVENS POINT (90) - Zuiker 6-10 4-5 16, Frank 7-10 1-2 18, Bailey 7-14 25-31 39, Kind 1-5 0-0 2, Larson 0-3 2-2 2, Vosters 0-0 0-0 0, Bennett 0-1 2-2 2, Iserloth 0-0 0-0 0, DeVos 0-0 0-0 0, Kornowski 5-8 0-1 11, Benesh 0-0 0-0 0.

Totals: 26-51 34-43 90.

3-pointers: UW-L 10-28 (Manchester 4-9, Schultz 3-7, Westhoff 1-5, Flores 1-4, Hebert 1-3). UW-SP 4-13 (Frank 3-4, Kornowski 1-3, Kind 0-4, Larson 0-2). Rebounds: UW-L 33 (Dicklitch, Schultz 5). UW-SP 41 (Bailey 16).

Assists: UW-L 16 (Schultz 5). UW-SP 16 (Bailey 4). Total fouls: UW-L 27, UW-SP 15. Fouled out: Dicklitch, Hebert, Berlin, Manchester.