News Release

Stevens Point, Wis. — The UW-Stevens Point men’s basketball team hasn’t been able to figure out UW-Superior this season, but it won’t have to wait long for another chance.

The Pointers used an ice cold second half on Saturday at the Quandt Fieldhouse to fall to the Yellowjackets 61-52, ending their streak of four consecutive Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championships. However, UW-Stevens Point still earned the second seed for the upcoming WIAC tournament and will host the Yellowjackets again on Tuesday at 7 p.m.

UW-Superior also beat the ninth-ranked Pointers 57-54 on Jan. 17, marking the first time the Yellowjackets have swept UW-Stevens Point since 1964-65. The defeat also snapped the Pointers’ 15-game home regular season winning streak in February and was just their loss in their last 30 regular season games during the month.

UW-Stevens Point shot just 21.9 percent in the second half, missing 16 consecutive shots during a nearly nine-minute span. The Pointers held a 39-35 lead with 14:18 left and couldn’t force the lid off the hoop until finally scoring again with 5:38 remaining. During the Pointers’ cold spell, UW-Superior scored 12 straight points and took a 47-41 lead.

Jon Krull had two consecutive steals to help rally the Pointers. He hit one free throw following the first steal and converted a layup on the second to bring UW-Stevens Point to within 47-44 with 3:50 left.

UW-Superior’s Bob Riley made one free throw for a four-point lead and then had a steal and dunk on the Pointers’ next possession to push the lead back to 50-44 with 3:13 left. After Nick Bennett hit a basket to pull the Pointers back within four, UW-Superior missed its next shot, but Riley got the rebound and Laron Reed drained a three-pointer with the shot clock winding down to put the Yellowjackets ahead 53-46 with 2:16 left.

UW-Stevens Point finished the game making just one of its last six attempts and ended the day 19-for-60 from the field for 31.7 percent. The Pointers entered the game ranked 12th in the NCAA Division III in field goal percentage at 50.1 percent and had not been held below 41 percent all year.

UW-Superior's Cody Kastern led all scorers with 19 points on eight-for-nine shooting. Riley had 17 points and 12 rebounds for the Yellowjackets, who won despite 24 turnovers. Krull had a career-high 12 points and Eric Maus added 12 points to lead the Pointers. UW-Stevens Points’ Jason Kalsow was three-for-15 from the floor and held to a season-low 10 points.