PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – The UW-Stevens Point men's basketball team (16-8, 8-6) saw homestanding UW-Platteville (15-10, 8-6) open the second half on a 27-7 run and came up short despite a late rally, 55-50, in the regular season finale.
 
Ethan Bublitz (Jackson, Wis./Kettle Moraine Lutheran) led all players with 20 points in the game, one of only five Pointers to score.  Nate Dodge (East Troy, Wis./East Troy) was also in double figures with 12 points.
 
Canon O'Heron (Bangor, Wis./Bangor) grabbed a team-high seven rebounds and dished out three of the UWSP's nine assists.
 
Dodge hit an early three and Blake Ehrke (Deerfield, Wis./Deerfield) extended the lead to 5-2.  The Pioneers scored 10 of the next 14 points, but five-straight by Drew Fredrickson (Mount Horeb, Wis./Mount Horeb) gave UWSP a 14-12 advantage. UWP scored five-straight, but UWSP's defense held the Pioneers scoreless over the final 4:52 of the half.  The Pointers led 20-17 at the half.
 
Ehrke scored at the 14:08 mark to get UWSP on the board in the second half.  Dodge scored again nearly a minute later, but the Pioneers kept pouring it on to jump out to a 44-27 lead after a 27-7 run to open the half. 
 
Bublitz nailed a pair of threes to get UWSP within nine with 2:03 to go.  Dodge buried a three and UWSP tried to extend the game.  Fredrickson drilled a three with 21 second remaining, but the Pioneers kept hitting free throws.  Bublitz drained another three in the closing seconds, but the rally was too late in the defeat.
 
The Pointers will be the four-seed in the WIAC Championship (presented by Culver's) and will host UW-Eau Claire on Tuesday.  Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at Quandt Fieldhouse.  Tickets go on sale on Monday (Feb. 18) at 8:00 a.m.