Box Score

MENOMONIE - An early 5-0 lead was the only daylight the Pointer men's basketball team saw on Wednesday evening, as UW-Stout matched the fourth-ranked UW-Stevens Point offense in the first half and used an 11-0 run at the start of the second to pull away and hold on for the two point victory, 69-67.

The loss is just the third of the season for the Pointers, who's record falls to 18-3 overall, 9-3 in the WIAC. UW-Stout, fresh off an upset victory over UW-Whitewater on Saturday, improves to 11-9 overall, 6-6 in WIAC play.

The Pointers opened the game on a 5-0 run and held the lead until the 11:41 mark of the opening half when Stout finally went in front 12-10 off a Jerrod Buchholtz three-pointer. Down the stretch the two teams traded blows, tying the game five times and each taking hold of the lead before ending the opening stanza tied at 34.

Stout started the second half on an 11-0 run and built their lead to 16 at the midway point of the second, leading 57-41 with just over 10 minutes left in the game.

The Pointers slowly chipped away at the Blue Devil lead, cutting the deficit to five with 3:16 remaining but ran out of time as Stout held on for the two point victory.

Jordan Giordana (Kaukauna) led all scorers with 17 points including a 4-of-7 performance from beyond the arc while Matt Moses (Fond du Lac) finished with 14 and Louis Hurd (Portage) chipped in 12 points. Moses was also the team's leading rebounder, collecting six boards.

Five Blue Devils finished in double figures, led by Buchholtz and Mahlon Thomas, who each finished with 13.

The Pointers will take the weekend off and return to action next Wednesday, Feb. 10, when they play host to the Blugolds of UW-Eau Claire. Game time is set for 7 p.m.