APPLETON, Wis. – The UW-Stevens Point men's basketball team picked up its second-straight victory away from home with a 69-50 victory at Lawrence to spoil the Vikings' home opener on Saturday night.  The win was the eight-straight in the series against Lawrence.
 
The Pointers (2-2) dominated in nearly every category out-rebounding the Vikings, 38-28, and holding Lawrence without a free throw attempt all of the second half.  UWSP won the battle down low with 34 points in the paint to Lawrence's 16.
 
Sophomores Ethan Bublitz (Jackson, Wis./Kettle Moraine Lutheran) and Mark Nelson (Madison, Wis./Monona Grove) led the Pointers in scoring, both recording double digits in the game. Bublitz led all players with 19 points while Nelson added 10.  Bublitz also grabbed 11 rebounds for his first double-double of the season.
 
The Pointers jumped out to a 9-0 lead to begin the game. But a pair of three-pointers by the Vikings (0-2) began the turnaround for the home team in the first half.  The fourth three-pointer of the half for Lawrence gave the Vikings their biggest lead of the game at 18-14 with 11:38 to go in the first half.
 
Four minutes later, MJ Delmore (Wisconsin Dells, Wis./Wisconsin Dells) hit from behind the arc to give the Pointers the lead back at 23-22.  Senior Brad Freeborn (River Falls, Wis./River Falls) hit a three and hit a layup to begin a 6-0 run that extended the advantage to seven points, the same as the Pointers' lead at the break.
 
Bublitz hit one of his three made three-pointers five minutes into the second half to snap a 5-0 run by the hosts. Then with just under 13 minutes remaining, the Vikings closed to within a point of UWSP at 43-42.  But Bublitz had five-straight points and Luke Zuiker (Marshfield, Wis./Marshfield) hit a three to cap a 10-0 run by the Pointers, who led by 11 midway through the second half.
 
Five minute later, Bublitz hit another three and the Pointers held the Vikings scoreless over the final 4:50 of the game to roll to the win.
 
The Pointers will host UW-Superior on Tuesday at Bennett Court in UWSP's home opener.  Tipoff is slated for 7:00 p.m.