Box Score Box Score

SUPERIOR, Wis. - Tyler Tillema (Randolph, WI/Randolph) scored a game-high 21 points as the 16th-ranked UW-Stevens Point men's basketball team earned a hard fought 67-58 victory against the Yellowjackets of UW-Superior on Saturday afternoon in Mertz Mortorelli Gym.

The Pointers opened the game on a 14-4 run, capped off by a T. Tillema jumper, just six minutes into the contest.

UWSP kept between a seven- and 11-point lead throughout most of the first half before a Jordan Giordana (Kaukauna, WI/Kaukauna) three-pointer with 5:19 left gave the Pointers a 14-point lead at 26-12.

UWS cut the deficit to three with just over a minute to play but freshman Austin Ryf (Winneconne, WI/Winneconne) answered with a layup to give UWSP a five-point lead, 29-24, into halftime.

T. Tillema opened the second with a jumper to increase the lead to seven, but three consecutive baskets by UWS cut the Pointers' lead down to one at 31-30.

The Pointers regrouped, going on a 20-9 run over the next 7:35 and extending their lead to 13 points, the largest in the second half.

The Yellowjackets were able to bring the game within four points on three occasions, but the Pointers held UWS to just one point over the final 3:47 and knocked down all four from the free-throw line in the final minute to hang on for a 67-58 victory.

The victory for the Pointers marked the 17th consecutive time it has come out on top against the Yellowjackets.

T. Tillema led all scorers with 21 points on 9-of-16 shooting while tallying a game-high seven assists. Jordan Brezinski (Muskego, WI/Muskego) posted his third double-double in the last four games with 14 points and a game-high 14 rebounds while senior Dan Tillema (Randolph, WI/Randolph/Minnesota-Duluth) recorded 10 points and five rebounds.

Brendan Bauer scored a team-high 16 points for the Yellowjackets while Ben Aalfs (13) and Dustin Ritchie (11) scored in double figures.

For the game, UWSP held a slight advantage in field goals, knocking down 43.1 percent if its attempts compared to 40.7 for UWS.

UW-Stevens Point (16-4, 9-2 WIAC) returns to action on Wednesday at it hosts UW-Platteville in conference play. Wednesday's game is also a “White Out” game, encouraging all fans in attendance to wear white. Game time is set for 7 p.m.