Sun 30-Jan-2000

Pointers nip Eagles, stay in first place
CW Sunday staff

LA CROSSE - Brant Bailey and the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point men's basketball took the best shots UW-La Crosse had to offer - figuratively and literally - on Saturday before pulling out a 76-73 victory.

Bailey scored 39 points for the second time this season against the Eagles and also grabbed 13 rebounds as the Pointers stayed atop the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference with a 10-2 record.

Bailey, who shot an NCAA Division III record 31 free throws in the Pointers' 90-81 victory over La Crosse earlier this season - did most of the damage from in the paint this time, hitting 14-of-15 shots from the floor.

As a team, UW-SP was 27-of-48 from the field for 56 percent.

"Tonight we were warriors and our chief was Brant Bailey," said UW-SP coach Jack Bennett, whose team improved to 15-4 overall. "There is not a kid that gets beat up more out there and keeps his mouth shut and just goes about his business."

Bailey's business Saturday was helping the Pointers rally in the second half with 27 of his points coming after intermission.

UW-SP also found the stroke from the free throw line that was missing down the stretch in Wednesday's 61-60 loss to UW-Superior. The Pointers, who made just 3-of-7 free throws in the closing minutes against Superior, were 10-of-10 from the stripe in the final four minutes against the Eagles.

La Crosse, 3-9 WIAC 8-12 overall, was led by Paul Manchester with 18 points.

Eddie Hebert and Matt Schultz added 11 points and Tom Westhoff had 10 for the Eagles.

"I don't think La Crosse could have played a better game than they did tonight," Bennett said. "They have some great shooters and there were times when we were five, six and seven points down when we could have folded. But we didn't."

The game was a physical affair, much to Bennett's displeasure.

"It was a football game out there," the UW-SP coach said. "They play physical and we play physical, but when people are out there getting their jerseys grabbed, it takes something away from the game. It takes away from a finesse game like we like to play."

The Pointers led 24-17 with just under 11 minutes remaining in the first half. But the Eagles closed the period with a 19-7 streak to lead 36-31 at the intermission.

UW-SP took its first lead of the second half at 56-55 on a 3-pointer by Jay Bennett with 8:47 to go.

The lead changed hands twice more before the Pointers went ahead for good at 66-65 on a free throw by Bailey. A basket by Derek Kind gave the Pointers a 3-point bulge.

UW-SP was able to increase its lead to seven thanks to an intentional foul on the Eagles and a technical foul charged to La Crosse coach Charlie Gross, who argued the call. Bailey hit all four free throws, giving the Pointers a 72-65 lead with 2:47 remaining.

La Crosse pulled to within one point - 74-73 - on a 3-pointer by Manchester with 49 seconds remaining. But Gabe Frank answered with a pair of free throws with 13 seconds left and Eagles' 3-point attempt to tie in the closing seconds bounced out.

The Pointers return home for a pair of WIAC contests next week. Wednesday they host UW-Oshkosh and Saturday they take on two-time defending Division III champion UW-Platteville at Quandt Fieldhouse.