STEVENS POINT, Wis. – Senior Ethan Bublitz's (Jackson, Wis./Kettle Moraine Lutheran) final regular season shot on Bennett Court was just off target as the UW-Stevens Point men's basketball team (15-10, 7-7) dropped the regular season finale to No. 7 UW-Platteville (22-3, 12-2) by a 70-69 final.
 
Bublitz led all scorers with 23 points and added eight rebounds.  He hit four three-pointers, a season-high.  Garrett Nelson (Beaver Dam, Wis./Beaver Dam) was also in double figures with 14 points.  Senior Brandon Spray (Prairie Du Sac, Wis./Sauk Prairie) grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds.
 
Matt Koerner (West Bend, Wis./West) began the game with a three and UWSP scored the first five points.  Nelson hit a three just over five minutes in as the Pointers maintained the lead.  Zach Mootz (Merrill, Wis./Merrill) nailed a three with 9:15 left in the first half as the lead reached seven.
 
Bublitz and Nelson buried consecutive triples to push the advantage to double figures, 32-21, with 4:42 remaining in the first half.  Nelson hit another bucket and UWSP held a 34-25 lead at the break.
 
Bublitz ended a 4-0 start to the second half by the Pioneers with a good layup.  UWSP held the lead until just under 13 minutes remained.  Nelson quickly got the lead back with three and a three by Bublitz gave UWSP a lead again a few minutes later. 
 
Two more three by Bublitz down the stretch gave UWSP brief tenuous leads.  Threes by Koerner and Blake Ehrke (Deerfield, Wis./Deerfield) gave UWSP one-point edges as time wound down.  With just over a minute remaining, a Spray layup tied the game at 68-68.  Nelson drew a foul and made the first free throw with 20 seconds left. UWP regained the lead with a basket with 2.6 seconds left.  The Pointers had one final chance, but Bublitz's shot at the buzzer was no good.
 
The Pointer travel to UW-Eau Claire on Tuesday (Feb. 25) for the first round of the WIAC Championship (presented by Culver's). Tip-off is slated for 8:00 p.m.