The Pointers (8-1 WIAC, 13-3 overall) took a half-game lead over Eau Claire (7-1 WIAC) with a 76-69 victory over UW-Whitewater at the Williams Center on Wednesday.

Seniors Brant Bailey and Gabe Frank led four Pointers in double figures with 26 and 16 points, respectively. Junior point guard Brent Larson added 13 points and eight assists and redshirt freshman Derek Kind added 11 points off the bench as the Pointers scored their fifth straight win.

Whitewater was paced by Ernest Williams with 21 points, Aubrey Lewis-Byers with 14 and Scott Voigt with 11.

The victory was the third straight for the Pointers over the Warhawks. UW-SP knocked off Whitewater 77-67 in the WIAC quarterfinals last season and thumped the Warhawks 94-51 in their conference opener earlier this season.

"Until last year, this was a ve ry tough place for us to play," said Bennett. "We just couldn't win here. "I'm very pleased with this win. It wasn't easy, but it was a set-up game for Saturday."

Bailey put his name into the UW-SP record book twice from the free throw line against the Warhawks. In converting 6-of-9 foul shots, he broke the school single-season and career records for most free throws made.

Bailey, who has converted 134 foul shots so far this season, eclipsed his own single-season mark of 130. His 359 career free throws also broke the mark of 356 set by LaVerne Luebstorf (1955-59).

The Pointers, who opened a 10-point lead - 23-13 - midway through the first half, seemed on the brink of blowing the game open on a number of occasions in the first half, only to have the Warhawks answer the call and remain within striking distance.

UW-SP held a 34-27 lead at halftime. 

"Part of it was what we didn't do (in the first half) and part was what they did do," Bennett said. "They are a much improved team."

The second half played out much like the first. UW-SP took its largest lead of the contest at 11 points, 61-50 on a jumper by Frank with 7:38 remaining.

But the Warhawks answered with a 13-4 run and cut the deficit to just two points, 65-63, on a layup by Lewis-Byers at the 3:14 mark.

Kind's 3-pointer and a pair of free throws by Bailey pushed the advantage to seven points with just over two minutes remaining and the Pointers held on for the victory.

With their big men in foul trouble all game long, the Pointer bench played a key role in securing the victory. Starters Bailey and Joe Zuiker each finished the game with four fouls, as did their back-ups, Travis Kornowski and Josh Iserloth.

"The bench didn't play spectacularly, but they were solid," said Bennett.   "And that was what we needed. Our depth is one of our strong points and we needed all of that depth tonight."

While Bennett was satisfied to leave Whitewater with a win, he knows the 16th-ranked Pointers must be at their best if they are to have a shot at knocking off the No. 3-ranked Blugolds on Saturday.

"We will have to play much better," the UW-SP coach said. "We will have to be a little more sound with the ball and be ready to play a tough, solid game Saturday.

"They come in as the No. 3 ranked team in the country and we are looking forward to the challenge."

Eau Claire tuned up for Saturday's showdown at Quandt Fieldhouse by pasting Northland College 99-48 in a non-conference game on Wednesday.