Box Score

SAINT PAUL, Minn. - Khalifa El-Amin (Milwaukee, Rufus King) and Matt Moses (Fond du Lac, St. Mary Springs) each poured in 17 points as the Pointers defeated the Rams of Cornell College to advance to the second round of the NCAA Division III men's basketball tournament. 

The Pointers opened the game on an 8-0 run and built a comfortable 12 point lead at the 11 minute mark, in front 20-8. The Pointers maintained a cushion the rest of the way through the first half, taking a 34-26 lead into halftime.

In the second half, The Pointers again moved their lead to double digits early, going in front by 10, 38-28, with just over 18 minutes. Not going away quietly, the Rams of Cornell used a 15-8 run to cut the Pointer deficit to one, 44-43 with 10:28 showing on the clock.

Jerome Wotachek (Mishicot) answered with a jumper of his own at the 10 minute mark as the Pointers used a 9-0 run to pull back in front by 10, 53-43, with just over seven minutes remaining in the game.

Again Cornell answered back, using a 10-0 run of its own to tie the game for the first time, forcing a 53-53 deadlock with 3:43 remaining.

Pete Rortvedt (Minocqua, Lakeland) answered with a layup to regain the lead for the Pointers as they closed out the half on an 8-0 run, pulling away for the 61-53 victory.

El-Amin added three assists to his 17-point performance while Moses added 11 rebounds for his third double-double of the season. Rortvedt added 10 points and six rebounds but was 0-for-5 from three-point land in the win. Bryan Beamish (Wisconsin Rapids, Lincoln) led the way with six assists and five rebounds but did not score.

For Cornell, Griffin LaDew (Pewaukee) added 17 points in the loss.

UW-Stevens Point (24-4) advances to face the nation's top ranked team, St. Thomas, in the second round of the NCAA Division III tournament on Saturday, March 7 at 7 p.m. in St. Paul.