The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater men's basketball team fell behind early and was unable to recover from the deficit Wednesday night in a 68-54 defeat at UW-Stevens Point in a Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference contest.
 
The Warhawks (5-8 overall, 0-2 WIAC) held the Pointers to 39.1 percent shooting in the second half but were unable to mount a comeback, drawing as close as nine in the period.
 
Sophomore guard Bailey Kale (La Crosse, Wis./Central) tallied 19 points, three rebounds, two assists and two steals to lead UW-Whitewater. Junior forward Equan Ards (Milwaukee, Wis./Hamilton) collected 12 points, three rebounds and three assists, senior forward Riley Jensen (Milton, Wis./Janesville Craig) totaled seven points, five rebounds and four steals, and sophomore guard Jack Brahm (Bayside, Wis./Glendale Nicolet) compiled seven points and four rebounds.
 
The Pointers (10-3, 2-0) scored the first 10 points of the contest and led 19-1 through six minutes of action.
 
UW-Stevens Point grabbed its largest lead of the half at 30-11 with 5:44 on the clock before UW-Whitewater chipped away at its deficit, drawing to within 35-25 with 42 seconds remaining on a pair of free throws by Jensen. The Warhawks trailed 37-25 at halftime.
 
The Pointers' advantage swelled to 15 by the 14:30 mark of the second half before four straight points by Ards brought UW-Whitewater to within 46-35 with 13:42 left.
 
UW-Stevens Point built its lead up to 16 one minute later, but Kale sparked a 7-0 run with five straight points and the deficit was down to nine with 10:28 on the clock.
 
UW-W drew to within nine again with 1:50 to play, but was unable to draw any closer.
 
The Warhawks play at home for the first time since Nov. 22 this Saturday against UW-River Falls. Tipoff is slated for 1 p.m. at Kachel Gymnasium.