Wednesday night, Bailey again played a key role, scoring a game-high 34 points, in the Pointers' come-from-behind victory over UW-Oshkosh at Kolf Sports Center.

But, the 6-foot-7 senior was not on the court as the Pointers held off the Titans down the stretch of their 85-78 victory.

Bailey fouled out with 3:32 to go in the contest and UW-SP clinging to a 71-68 lead.

The Titans twice closed the gap to two points, but the Pointers sealed the win by hitting 10-of-14 free throws in the closing minutes. 

The victory improved the Pointers to 9-3 overall and 4-1 in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Oshkosh fell to 7-5 on the season and 1-4 in conference.

"This win was a total team win," said UW-SP coach Jack Bennett, whose team trailed by 11 points three times in the first half.

"We found a way to win and we pulled it out. We dug down real deep and found the courage to do it."

The Pointers did it by changing tactics at halftime. 

After shooting just 38 percent and falling behind 35-27 in the first half, Bennett went large with his lineup and it paid off as UW-SP shot a scorching 76 percent (16-of-21) in the second half and outscored the Titans 58-43.

In addition to Bailey's 23 second-half points, the Pointers also got 12 points from freshman forward Josh Iserloth, nine from forward Travis Kornowski and eight from forward Gabe Frank after intermission.

Frank finished with 14 points, while Kornowski and Iserloth did all of their scoring in the second half. Point guard Brent Larson added 10 points for UW-SP.

"This was a night when we decided we had to go big," Bennett said. "In the first half, we were treading water and fortunate to be down by just eight. 

"I told them at halftime that we were still in this thing and we came around in the second half."

The contest featured a showdown of the No. 1 and No. 2 scorers in the WIAC in Bailey and the Titans' Brad Clark. Clark finished with 27 points, but like Bailey, wasn't around at the final horn after fouling out with 25 seconds remaining.

Justin Kamps added 12 points and Montrell Ross had 11 for Oshkosh.

The Pointers opened the second half with a 14-5 run and took their first lead at 41-40 with 15:44 remaining on a 3-pointer by Kornowski.

There would be three ties and three lead changes before the Pointers moved ahead for good at 59-58 on a layup by Bailey with 9:07 remaining.

Clark kept the Titans in the game down the stretch, scoring 10 of their final 16 points, but it wasn't enough.

UW-SP led by as many as five in the final minutes. The Pointers held an 81-78 advantage with 35 seconds remaining and Larson and Kornowski iced the game by scoring the final four points at the free throw line.

"This game is everything that team sports is all about," Bennett said. "I couldn't be prouder of this group of guys.

"Oshkosh may be only 1-4, but Oshkosh is loaded with talent. They will make some noise in the conference before the season is over."

A possible piece of the WIAC lead will be on the line as the Pointers travel to UW-Platteville to take on the defending NCAA Division III champions Saturday night. The Pioneers (5-0 WIAC), hold a half-game advantage over UW-SP.