UW-Stout 69, UW-Stevens Point 67 |
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MENOMONIE, Wis. (February 3, 2010) - Stout defeated their second straight top five nationally ranked team, Wednesday night, when they took down UW-Stevens Point, 69-67, at Johnson Fieldhouse.
Following Saturday's defeat of fifth-ranked UW-Whitewater, the Blue Devils (11-9, 6-6 WIAC) beat the Pointers (18-3, 9-3 WIAC) to capture their sixth conference win out of their last eight WIAC contests.
The first half was played evenly by each team, as the largest lead by either team was five points, a Stevens Point lead just two minutes into the game. There were five ties and eight lead changes in the first period.
Stout came out hot in the second half, reeling off an 11-0 run, giving them a 45-34 lead. After Point cut the lead to six, the Blue Devils went on another run, this time a 10-point streak, eight of which were scored by
Michael Fant (Sr, Weston).
Stout held off a strong Pointer charge and held a seemingly secure 13-point lead with five minutes to play.
Stevens Point, however, showed why they were ranked fourth in the nation, turning that 13-point lead into a 3-point lead in under three minutes.
After
Mahlon Thomas (Jr, Brooklyn Park, Minn.) made a bucket to give Stout a five-point lead, Ross Forman hit a three to pull the Pointers within two points with a minute and a half to go.
Stevens Point got the ball last, but came up unsuccessful as their game-tying attempt bounced off the rim, giving Stout their second straight big win.
Thomas scored 13 points, as did
Jerrod Buchholtz (Jr, Durand). Thomas also tied for the lead in rebounds with 7, sharing that mark with teammate
Jerrel Enerson Matthews (Sr, Anoka, Minn.), who finished the game with 10 points, seven boards, and seven assists.
Stout will try to stay hot, Saturday, Feb. 6, when they host UW-Oshkosh for Alumni Day. Game will follow the women's game, and is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.
