Taking a breather
Pointers have no trouble with Titans
By Denis Downey of the Stevens Point Journal

Buzzer beater: UW-Stevens Point's Nate Vosters (left) connects over the outstretched hand of Montrell Ross (middle) of UW-Oshkosh in the waning seconds of the opening half of their WIAC basketball game at the Quandt Fieldhouse on Wednesday night. (Journal photo by Sean O'Leary)

After five straight close Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference games, the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point men's basketball team needed a break.

They got it Wednesday night against a short-handed UW-Oshkosh squad 76-54 at Quandt Fieldhouse.

"After some of the close games we have had recently, I didn't know how to react," said UW-SP coach Jack Bennett, whose team improved to a WIAC-leading 11-2 and 16-4 overall.

"It was very nice to have a game like this. We were able to get everyone into the game and we were able to feel in control of things for the first time in a long time."

UW-SP's Brant Bailey led all scorers with 23 points. Jay Bennett added 11 points and Gabe Frank had 10 as 11 Pointers entered the scoring column.

Justin Kamps led the Titans (12-9, 5-8 WIAC) with 18 points. Scott Sowinski added 10 for Oshkosh.

The game was supposed to be a showdown between the WIAC's leading scorer, Bailey, and the leagues' No. 3 scorer, Oshkosh's Brad Clark. But it never materialized, as Clark - who picked up four fouls in the first half - fouled out of the game with 17:36 left in the second half.

Clark exited with just six points.

The Titans, who also played the entire game without their No. 2 scorer, Aric Vaubel (injury), never threatened after the Pointers took the lead for good at 13-11 with just under 14 minutes to go in the first half.

"Oshkosh just isn't the same team without Vaubel and Clark, who never really got into the game because of his foul trouble," said Bennett. "But I don't want to take anything away from our team. We didn't let up and give them any openings to get back into the game."