Box Score Box Score

COLLEGEVILLE, Minn. – Saint John's erased a 14-point halftime deficit to hand the UW-Stevens Point men's basketball team a 60-55 loss on Tuesday evening at Sexton Arena.

The Pointers jumped in front early, as Jordan Brezinski (Muskego, WI/Muskego) scored the first six points of the game and Tyler Tillema (Randolph, WI/Randolph) added a lay-up to give UWSP an 8-0 lead. 

The Pointers continued to build on their lead throughout the first half and a Dan Tillema (Randolph, WI/Randolph/Minnesota-Duluth) three-pointer at the buzzer gave UWSP a 14-point edge, 38-24, at the half.

The second half unfolded much differently for the Pointers, as the host Johnnies chipped away at their deficit and, with 7:36 remaining, had erased the UWSP lead. 

T. Tillema connected on the Pointers first field goal of the second half at the 6:55 mark to push the Pointers lead back to four but the Johnnies quickly wiped out the deficit. 

A three-point basket by SJU's Kevin McKenzie gave the Johnnies the lead for good as they closed out the game on a 14-7 run to hand the No. 24 Pointers their first loss of the 2011-12 season.

UW-Stevens Point connected on just 2-of-17 field goals in the second half and 1-of-7 shots from behind the three point arc while Saint John's improved on its 2-17 performance in the first half with an 11-25 (.440) effort in the second half so steal the victory.

T. Tillema led the way with 14 points and added three steals while brother D. Tillema chipped in with 12.  Trevor Hass (New London, WI/New London/Augustana (SD)) and Brezinski each added eight points in the loss. 

McKenzie and Aaron Barmore each scored 13 for the Johnnies. 

UW-Stevens Point (3-1) returns to the hardwood on Saturday, Nov. 26 for a non-conference contest against Buena Vista. 

Fans are asked to make note of the change in game time. The game will tip-off at 3 p.m. in Quandt Fieldhouse.