Eighth ranked UW-Stevens Point made its case as the team that UW-River Falls will have to be concerned with the rest of the way with a 85-59 win over UW-Whitewater in Kachel Gym in Williams Center Wednesday night.  The 59 points is a season low for the Warhawks, two below their previous low of 61 in a loss at Stevens Point December 8.

box score
photo gallery (courtesy of Tim Gumz, all photos are for sale)

With Point leading 10-9 at 14:13, the Pointers went on a 6-0 spurt to lead 16-9 at 11:22.  The streak was broken by Antone Byrd (Milwaukee/Washington)'s layup at 10:47.  Byrd's basket was followed by an 11-0 run by UW-SP to make the Pointer margin 27-11 with 6:58 on the clock.  Again, Byrd broke the streak with a layup.  Both teams suffered a dry spell late in the half, neither team scoring for two minutes, but sophomore guard DeVon Jackson's layup with 0:25 left sent the Pointers into the lockeroom  up 40-20, the largest lead of the half.

Stevens Point shot 54% in the half, Whitewater 31%.  The Pointers used free throws to build half of their lead, making 10-12 from the line, while UW-W did not attempt a free throw.   Sophomore guard Jerrel Harris scored ten points in the half for UW-SP, with three assists and two steals. 

The Pointers came out of the lockerroom on a 9-0 run to build their lead to 49-20 at 18:17.  They controlled the half, eventually leading 74-36 with 6:22 remaining.  The closest UW-W managed was twenty-six points three times, including the final.

UW-SP wound up shooting 53% for the game, and hitting 22-27 free throws.  Whitewater was  38% from the field, and 7-12 from the line.  Senior guard DJ Dantzler (Joliet, IL/Joliet Township) was the only Warhawk in double figures, scoring 11.  Senior guard Phil Negri (Minocqua/Lakeland), freshman guard Alex Merg (Greendale/Greendale), and Byrd dished out three assists each for UW-W.  Harris led all scorers with 25 points, hitting 8-12 from the floor, while adding three assists and three steals.  Senior forward Nick Krull contributed 10 points and seven rebounds.  Sophomore guard Tyler Tillema chipped in with nine points, five assists, two blocks and two steals.

Whitewater suffering its second defeat at home this season, is 12-6 overall and 5-4 in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.  UW-SP, with its fourth straight win, is 16-3 and 8-2 in the WIAC. 

UW-W will host UW-Stout Saturday, January 29 at 4:00 in Kachel Gym of Williams Center.

For additional information:  Pat Miller, UW-W coach