The top-ranked Pointers had won their past six games by an average of 34.7 points per game and were held 27 points below their season average in the loss that dropped them to 16-2 overall and 9-1 in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Eighth-ranked UW-Oshkosh moved within one game of UW-Stevens Point for first place in the WIAC and improved to 16-3 overall and 8-2 in league play.
The game was played in front of a capacity crowd of 2,713 fans, but a 15-0 Titans’ run in the first half and a 14-0 spurt in the second half kept the home crowd fairly quiet for much of the contest.
UW-Stevens Point had won 21 of its last 23 games against ranked teams, though one of the other losses was a defeat at UW-Oshkosh last year. It was the second time the Titans have beaten the Pointers when they were ranked No.1, handing them a similar 74-59 setback at Oshkosh in the final game of the 2004-05 regular season.
“Oshkosh deserves a lot of credit,” Pointers’ coach Bob Semling said. “Their backs were against the wall and they handled our crowd a lot better than we did. We picked a bad night to be out of rhythm and out of sync, but a lot of that had to do with Oshkosh.”
“I knew it would be a good ballgame, but I didn’t think we’d be able to get on them as we did,” Titans’ coach Ted Van Dellen said. “That atmosphere was electric…But these guys, they’re out to prove something. We’re playing well.”
UW-Stevens Point hit three consecutive three-pointers and got an inside basket from Jerome Wotachek to take a 23-15 lead with 7:10 left in the first half. However, the Titans took over from that point as Dane Seckar-Anderson scored the next six points to spark a 15-point run. UW-Stevens Point had five missed shots and four turnovers during the run that ended on a three-pointer by Pete Rortvedt with 54 seconds left in the half to pull the Pointers within 30-26 at halftime.
UW-Oshkosh led 32-30 with 17:45 remaining in the game and went on a 14-0 run with freshman D.J. Marsh and senior Kerry Gibson scoring all 14 points. Marsh scored the final eight points of the spurt, hitting back-to-back three-pointers and a driving layup for a 46-30 advantage with 13 minutes left.
“The crowd really seemed to jack him up,” Pointers’ coach Bob Semling said of Marsh. “This is probably the biggest crowd he’s ever played in front of. Who wouldn’t want to be emotional and ready to play in front of a crowd like this? We just did not adjust.”
UW-Stevens Point made three straight three-pointers and quickly pulled within 48-40 with 9:30 left. However, two more Marsh layups put the Titans ahead 52-42 and they led by at least 10 points the rest of the way. Marsh scored 14 of his 17 points in the second half and was seven-for-nine from the field.
“He’s really become a complete player,” Titans’ coach Ted Van Dellen said of his freshman. “He’s going to be a heck of a player. Now we just have to somehow keep the rest of the league from noticing him.”
The Pointers missed seven straight three-pointers and UW-Oshkosh made 11 of 12 free throws in the final two minutes to provide the final margin. UW-Stevens Point shot just 37.7 percent from the field and had 12 three-pointers and eight two-point baskets. The Titans outscored the Pointers 38-14 inside the paint as 7-1 center Kerry Gibson matched a season-high with 23 points and added five blocks.
“They definitely came out and guarded us well on the perimeter,” said Pointers’ forward Jon Krull. “We just got out of rhythm with their pressure early. They also pounded it inside today a lot more than the first time.”
UW-Oshkosh held a commanding 39-22 rebounding advantage as three different players led the team with eight boards apiece. The Titans also shot 54.3 percent from the field. Jim Capelle added 19 points for UW-Oshkosh, while Bryan Beamish led UW-Stevens Point with 14 points.
“I know I have men of great character and courage,” Semling said. “This will be a defining moment for this team. Great teams lose tough games and come back hungrier than ever. That’s what I expect from our guys.”