Box Score

STEVENS POINT – The eighth-ranked UW-Stevens Point men's basketball team ended UW-Eau Claire's magic with an 88-65 victory tonight in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WIAC) Tournament Semifinals at Quandt Fieldhouse.

The Pointers improve to 22-5 this season, while the Blugolds end their season with a 12-15 record. Eau Claire knocked off the No. 2 seed UW-Platteville on Monday to advance and face the Pointers. Stevens Point improves to 3-0 against the Blugolds in the WIAC Tournament and have won the last 16 games overall. This is just the second time the three-seed has advanced to the WIAC Tournament Championship game.

The teams traded baskets early, but the Pointers went on a 9-1 run to open up an 18-9 lead with 13:58 left in the first half. Stevens Point then went on a 10-0 run, sparked by a pair of three-pointers by Steve Hicklin (Sussex/Hamilton) (Sr.-Sussex/Hamilton). Hicklin was 3-for-3 from beyond the arc in the first half. The Pointer lead remained in double-digits for the rest of the first half as they went into halftime with a 46-33 lead.

Stevens Point got 12 points from its bench in the half, while the Blugolds got zero points. The Pointers were clicking offensively, shooting 59 % from the field in the half, including 5-for-9 from beyond the three-point line. Eau Claire shot 50 % from the field in the first half.

The Blugolds only got as close as 11 in the second half. Stevens Point continued to extend its lead in the half. The Pointers led by as much as 26 near the end of the game as they won by a score of 88-65.
The Pointers finished at 53 % from the field for the game. Stevens Point was 7-for-18 from beyond the three-point line and was 17-for-23 from the free throw line. The Pointers had 19 assists, compared to just eight turnovers. The Pointers also had a 39-28 edge on the glass. The Blugolds shot 43 % for the game.

Steve Hicklin (Sussex/Hamilton) led the Pointers with 19 points, 13 of which coming in the first half. Hicklin was honored before the game as he was named the recipient of the Max Sparger Scholar-Athlete Award. Bryan Beamish (Wisconsin Rapids/Lincoln) (Jr.-Wisconsin Rapids/Lincoln) added 16 points and Pete Rortvedt (Minocqua/Lakeland) (Jr.-Minocqua/Lakeland) had a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Dan Beyer led the Blugolds with 22 points.

The Pointers will play in their fourth WIAC Tournament Championship game in the last five years when they head down to Whitewater to face the Warhawks. The Pointers and Warhawks will tip-off on Saturday at Kachel Gym at a time to be determined.