The NCAA Division II Wildcats hit seven of their first 10 shots and used a pair of key runs to hold off Pointer comebacks for their sixth straight victory to improve to 7-5 overall. UW-Stevens Point had won its first nine games of the year and is ranked fifth in the NCAA Division III.
Northern Michigan took a 40-29 lead with five minutes left in the first half before the Pointers scored eight straight points to pull within three points, however, the Wildcats scored the next seven points and eventually led 50-39 at halftime.
UW-Stevens Point’s Pete Rortvedt, who finished with 27 points, hit a three-pointer with 16:24 left in the game to bring the Pointers back within five points at 57-52. But the Pointers were unable to stop the Wildcats all day, and particularly Volcy, who had seven points during a 13-2 run as Northern Michigan opened up a 70-54 advantage with 12:21 remaining.
UW-Stevens Point clawed as close as seven points in the final minute, but Northern Michigan sealed the game at the free throw line, making 27 of 34 free throws for the game. The Wildcats also made 10 three-pointers and got 17 points from Chris Warner as they posted the most points allowed by the Pointers since UW-Platteville scored 112 on Jan. 30, 1991.
The Pointers had all five starters in double figures with Steve Hicklin adding 19 points and Jon Krull scoring 18 points. Khalifa El-Amin and Bryan Beamish each tallied 11 points. UW-Stevens Point drained 12 three-pointers and remained in the game by hitting 20 of 21 free throw attempts.
UW-Stevens Point has a day off before hosting fifth-ranked Augustana (Ill.) on Saturday at 1 p.m.