News Release

STEVENS POINT, Wis. — UW-Stevens Point passed its first test of the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference men’s basketball tournament with flying colors in more ways than one.

The Pointers used a precision passing attack to dissect the UW-Superior defense and earn an 88-68 quarterfinal victory. UW-Stevens Point had assists on 20 of its first 23 baskets and finished with 24 assists for the game in defeating the Yellowjackets in the first round for the second straight year.

The second-seeded Pointers advance to host third-seeded UW-Oshkosh in the semifinals for the third straight year. The game is set for Thursday at 7 p.m. in the Quandt Fieldhouse.

UW-Stevens Point missed its first shot attempt of the game, but made its next seven field goals to build a 23-7 lead with 10:53 left in the first half. The Pointers cruised from that point, connecting on 60 percent of their shots in the first half and 69.2 percent in the second half.

The Pointers did most of their work on the inside, sending cutters through the lane and snaring sharp passes for layups. UW-Stevens Point scored 50 of its points in the paint and hit a season-low three three-pointers in just 10 attempts.

One of the Pointers’ threes was a milestone shot, however, as Nick Bennett’s shot that put UW-Stevens Point ahead 23-7 was the 205th three-pointer of his career, eclipsing Andy Boario’s school record.

It wasn’t the only record set on the night as Jason Kalsow surpassed a 46-year old school rebounding record with seven boards to give him 823 for his career and pass the mark of La Vern Luebstorf from 1959. Kalsow is the first player from any WIAC school to break his school’s career rebound record since Dan McGinty of UW-River Falls in 1979 and is the only player who currently leads a WIAC team in both career scoring and rebounding.

In fact, Kalsow’s record-setting rebound kept alive another mark as his putback with 4:36 left gave him 11 points for the night and his 59th straight game in double figures. He also had seven assists as one of four Pointers with at least four assists. The team’s 24 helpers was two shy of the WIAC tournament record.

UW-Stevens Point led 39-23 at halftime and opened the second half by making its first six shots while pushing the lead to 47-26. The Pointers maintained at least a 16-point lead throughout the half and led by as many as 26 points.
Bennett had 22 points to lead the Pointers, while Jon Krull and Eric Maus each posted season highs with Krull scoring 20 and Maus adding 14. UW-Stevens Point had a season-high 15 turnovers, but had five in the last three minutes of the game with the reserves on the floor.

Laron Reed scored 21 points to lead the Yellowjackets, notching 17 of his points in the second half. Leonard Cobb had 19 points, including 15 after halftime.