Thu 17-Feb-2000

Twenty-Something
Pointers make Mount Senario 20th victim
By Denis Downey of the Stevens Point Journal

Twenty - as in 20 wins - is a magic number in the world of college basketball.

It's a number that can mean the difference between a good season and a great season.

That's why Wednesday's 75-61 victory over Mount Senario was important for the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point men's basketball team.

The win lifted the Pointers to 20-4 on the season. And, coach Jack Bennett hoped, would help impress the NCAA Division III selection committee, should the Pointers falter in the upcoming Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Tournament.

As regular season WIAC champs, the Pointers will enjoy home-court advantage as far as they go in the conference tournament. But since the WIAC's automatic NCAA bid goes to the conference tournament champion, UW-SP is not a lock for the big dance if they don't win the WIAC tournament title.

"This was an important win because 20-4 looks a lot better than 19-5," said Bennett, whose team is ranked No. 10 in the latest Division III poll.

"Nothing is guaranteed, but we should have a legitimate shot (of making the NCAA tournament), regardless of what happens in the conference tournament. But you never know.

"I would hope that the selection committee would look at what you did throughout the whole season, not just what could happen on one bad night. That's why 20 wins is important."

The Pointers' first WIAC tournament game will come against the winner of Saturday's No. 8/No. 9 play-in game between La Crosse and Whitewater on Tuesday at 7 p.m. in Quandt Fieldhouse.

Pointer fans got a look at the present and the future, as senior all-American candidate Brant Bailey scored 19 points and freshman Josh Isterloth had 20 against the Fighting Saints.

Bailey and Iserloth dominated the first 14 minutes of the second half, combining for 25 of UW-SP's 29 points in a span that saw the Pointers lead by as many as 21.

Bailey scored the first nine points of the run and Iserloth finished it off with 11 straight.

"Brant was Brant and Iserloth showed glimpses of what we expect from him in the future," said Bennett. "Iserloth is going to be a great scorer. He can put the ball in the hole. All he needs to do is to get some more weight on him and learn to play more physical under the basket."

Mount Senario had four players in double figures, led by Marcell Willis with 14 points. Larry Taylor added 12 points, Traimaile Bullock had 11 and Joesph Nikolaidis had 10.

The game was a contrast in styles, featuring the Pointers' team approach against the individual talent of the Fighting Saints. Mount Senario came into the game averaging 81 points and outrebounding their opponents by 13 boards a game. But the Pointers held their own on defense and on the glass.

"I think it came down to our system versus their individual talent," Bennett said. "And I don't mean to take anything away from them. They have some very good players on that team and when they can get you to play a one-on-one game with them, you can be in real trouble. But we kept our composure and made them play our game."

The Pointers didn't find themselves in any trouble against the Fighting Saints. Mount Senario's last lead came at 6-5 three minutes into the game. UW-SP finished the half with a 32-15 spurt that opened up a 37-20 halftime advantage.

With the outcome decided early, Bennett was able to substitute freely throughout the second half.

"That's a luxury that I don't think I will have in the next few games," said Bennett. "I'd like to, but the play gets turned up a notch at tournament time."