Box Score

MADISON, Wis. - Don't tell Edgewood College and UW-Stevens Point that this was a non-conference men's basketball game in December. The Eagles and the Pointers slugged it out like it was a postseason game in March. While the Eagles made a strong case for being included with some of the top teams in the country, the Pointers used a late surge to end the Eagles nine-game winning streak with an 81-70 victory.

Edgewood College (9-1) had rallied back from a 40-28 halftime deficit to get within 43-41 on a basket by Kent Faurote. The Pointers pushed it back to 50-43 on a three-pointer by Jordan Giordana a few moments later, before the Eagles would make a run and grab the led. After a free throw by Derek Nkemnji, Faurote drilled a three-point basket. On the following possession, Faurote nearly lost his footing on the way to the hoop, but recovered in time for a one-hand dunk through traffic to cut the Pointers' lead to 50-49. Following a UW-Stevens Point (8-2) timeout, Nkemnji found Ben Wisniewski with a slick, backdoor bounce pass to give Edgewood College their first lead of the second half at 51-50.

The two teams then traded baskets until the Pointers made their decisive run. After Wisniewski hit two free throws with 6:37 to go to tie the game at 62, UW-Stevens Point scored 12 straight points to seize control of the game. The final nine points came on three consecutive three-point shots, two by Trevor Hass and one from Giordana. The Eagles would get as close as seven points at 76-69 with 1:03 to play, but the Pointers would hold on for their eighth win of the season.

The Eagles threatened to shoot the Pointers out of the gym in the first seven minutes of the game. Edgewood College made seven of their first nine shots to take a 16-10 lead, including seven points from Jake Guziewski and five from Nkemnji. However, the Eagles would then miss their next nine shots during an 18-0 UW-Stevens Point run. Cashton Craig ended the dry spell with his first three-point basket of the game. Craig scored 10 first half points, while Guziewski and Nkemnji added seven each to keep the Eagles in the game.

Craig would end up as the Eagles leading scorer, pouring in a season-high 19 points on 8-for-13 shooting. Craig led a group of four Eagles in double figures, including Wisniewski who had 13 points and Faurote with 11. Both Wisniewski and Faurote scored all their points in the second half. Nkemnji chipped in 10 points. Wisniewski matched a career-high with six assists. Edgewood College shot 50 percent (27-for-54) for the game.

All five starters for UW-Stevens Point scored in double figures led by a game-high 22 points from Hass. Tyler Tillema scored 19 points and led the Pointers with nine rebounds and four assists. Giordana added 15 points, while Dan Tillema and Jordan Brezinski scored 11 points each. The Pointers enjoyed a 37-27 advantage on the boards.

Edgewood College will return to action after Christmas with a New Years' Eve home game against North Park University. The Eagles and Vikings will tip off at 2:00 p.m. and the game will be broadcast live on EdgewoodCollegeEagles.com.