Box Score Photo Gallery
STEVENS POINT, Wis. – The 18th-ranked UW-Stevens Point men's basketball team used a 21-6 run in the second half to extend its 27-game home win streak as it defeated 13th-ranked University of St. Thomas, 72-66, on Thursday evening on Bennett Court.
The game featured the last two teams to hoist an NCAA Division III national championship trophy as the Tommies did in 2011 and the Pointers in 2010.
Both teams traded baskets early on as there were three ties in the first five minutes.
Up three,
Tyler Tillema (Randolph, WI/Randolph) sparked a 7-2 run to increase the Pointers lead to 10 at 27-17 with just fewer than five minutes to play.
UST held UWSP scoreless in the final 4:57 of the first half and narrowed the margin to two, 27-25, entering halftime.
In the second, Will DeBerg knotted the game up once again with a three pointer before the Pointers put together a 21-6 run, capped off by a
Jordan Brezinski (Muskego, WI/Muskego) layup, for a 15-point lead with 8:33 remaining.
The Tommies then went on a 15-5 run of their own and with 1:23 remaining cut the Pointers lead to 63-61.
As UST was looking to extend the game, UWSP knocked down 9-of-12 free throws down the stretch and Brezinski came up with a block to end the Tommies rally, resulting in a 72-66 victory for the Pointers.
Dan Tillema (Randolph, WI/Randolph/Minnesota-Duluth) recorded a double-double with 18 points and 12 rebounds while
Jordan Giordana (Kaukauna, WI/Kaukauna) scored a season-high 15, 6-of-6 from the free-throw line. T. Tillema and Brezinski also scored in double digits with 13 and 10 points, respectively. T. Tillema dished out a game-high seven assists.
Tommy Hannon led all scorers with 22 points on 10-of-13 shooting and grabbed 12 rebounds in the loss.
UWSP shot 51.1 percent on the day while UST shot 45.6 percent. The Tommies dominated the Pointers in the paint with a 42-24 advantage.
UW-Stevens Point (9-2, 3-0 WIAC) returns to action Friday, Dec. 30 to face St. Olaf in a nonconference matchup in Stevens Point. Game time is set for 7 p.m.
