Yellowjackets spring huge upset on conference leader
By Denis Downey of the Stevens Point Journal
It may be the dead of winter, but the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point men's
basketball team felt the piercing sting of the Yellowjacket on Wednesday night.
UW-Superior got physical with the Pointers and left Quandt Fieldhouse with a 61-60
victory.
The loss put UW-SP at 9-2 in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and 14-4
overall. Superior is 5-6 in league and 11-7 overall.
Justin Johnson's lay-up with 13 seconds left supplied the Yellowjackets with the winning
margin. UW-SP had two shots in the closing seconds, but both bounced out.
"They are a pretty physical team and it was permitted to be a physical game,"
said UW-SP coach Jack Bennett, whose team still holds a half-game lead over UW-Eau Claire
(8-2) in the WIAC.
"We can be physical at times, but I believe basketball is more of a finesse game. We
don't play a real physical style."
The Yellowjackets' Vince Thomas led all scorers with 20 points. Brandon Vesel was also in
double figures for Superior with 16.
Brandt Bailey scored 18 points, Joe Zuiker added 11 points and Josh Iserloth had 10 points
for UW-SP.
The win was the second this season over a ranked opponent for the Yellowjackets. In
addition to the Pointers, who are ranked 10th in the latest Division III poll, Superior
also knocked off No. 4-ranked UW-Platteville. The Yellowjackets also dropped an overtime
decision to No. 6-ranked UW-Eau Claire.
"Over the last couple of years, we have been a pretty good defensive basketball
team," said Superior coach Jeff Kaminsky. "The difference is now we have the
athletes to help us win some of the close games we have lost in the past."
