Box Score

RIVER FALLS – For the second time this season, the 12th-ranked UW-Stevens Point men's basketball team had no trouble with UW-River Falls, defeating the Falcons by a score of 71-40 tonight at the Karges Center.

The Pointers improve to 15-4 overall and 7-3 in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC). The Pointers have defeated the Falcons this season by a combined score of 158-84. The Falcons fall to an overall record of 7-11 and a WIAC record of 1-8.

Stevens Point put the game in doubt right from the tip, scoring the first nine points of the game. Steve Hicklin (Sussex/Hamilton) (Sr.-Sussex/Hamilton) had five of the nine points. River Falls' first field goal came at the 15:21-mark. Scott Hoelzel (Kaukauna/Kaukauna) (So.-Kaukauna) capped off a 6-0 run later in the half to give the Pointers a 20-6 lead with over seven minutes left. Bryan Beamish (Wisconsin Rapids/Lincoln) (Jr.-Wisconsin Rapids/Lincoln) ended the first half with a three-pointer to give Stevens Point a 36-14 halftime advantage.

The Pointers shot 54 % in the first half and owned an 18-11 edge on the glass. The Falcons shot just 25 % on 5-of-20 shooting and committed 11 turnovers. The Pointers had 16 points in the paint and nine second-chance points.

Stevens Point came out in the second half and outscored the Falcons 21-6 the first 10 minutes to extend its lead to 57-20. The Pointer lead grew to as much as 38 on a couple of occasions. River Falls cut the margin down a little bit, but the Pointers still won by a score of 71-40. The 40 points are the lowest by a WIAC school this season.

Stevens Point finished right at 50 % from the field and was just 2-for-2 from the free throw line for the game. The Falcons shot 30 % from the field and turned over the ball 20 times.

Scott Hoelzel (Kaukauna/Kaukauna) led the Pointers off the bench with a career-high 12 points. Steve Hicklin (Sussex/Hamilton) added 10 points, eight of which coming in the first half. Louis Hurd (Portage/Portage) (Fr.-Portage) had nine points in his first career start. Drew Jackson (Milwaukee/Rufus King) (Jr.-Milwaukee/Rufus King) had seven points and a team-high eight rebounds. Khalifa El-Amin (Milwaukee/Rufus King) (Jr.-Milwaukee/Rufus King) dished out five assists and had no turnovers. Willie Wright and Jesse Elling had seven points apiece to lead the Falcons.

The Pointers return to Quandt Fieldhouse next Wednesday when they host UW-Stout. The game is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.