The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater men's basketball team fought back from a double-digit deficit in the second half Wednesday night but were defeated 70-68 against UW-Stevens Point in a Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference contest at Kachel Gymnasium.
 
Playing for the first time in more than 11 months, the Warhawks (0-1, 0-1 WIAC) trailed 47-37 five minutes into the second half, but clawed their way back into the contest, tying the game at 52-52 with 8:25 to play on a pair of free throws by Gage Malensek (Brookfield, Wis./Central).
 
UW-Whitewater took its first lead of the second half at 65-63 with 2:42 remaining on a 3-point play from Malensek.
 
The Pointers (1-0, 1-0) scored the next seven points for a 70-65 advantage with 45 seconds on the clock, but Brian Conaghan (Wilmette, Ill./New Trier) knocked down a 3-pointer on the other end to bring the Warhawks within two with 37 seconds left.
 
The two teams traded empty possessions before UW-Stevens Point missed the front end of a 1-and-1 free-throw situation, giving UW-W the ball back with just over two seconds to play. The Warhawks' shot at the buzzer off a pass the length of the floor came up short.
 
Malensek, making his UW-Whitewater debut, tallied a team-high 22 points to go along with five assists and two steals. Trevon Chislom (McFarland, Wis./McFarland) tallied 14 points and three rebounds, and JT Hoytink (Menomonee Falls, Wis./Sussex Hamilton) recorded eight points off the bench.
 
Breontae Hunt (Milwaukee, Wis./Bay View) grabbed a team-high eight rebounds and added seven points, and Jack Brahm (Bayside, Wis./Glendale Nicolet) totaled seven points and three blocks.
 
The Warhawks shot 52.1 percent from the floor in the contest, including 54.5 percent in the second half. UW-Stevens Point held advantages in points off turnovers (15-8) and second-chance points (11-4).
 
The two teams meet again Friday in Stevens Point. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.