ST. PAUL, Minn. – Senior Garrett Nelson (Beaver Dam, Wis./Beaver Dam) was one of three UW-Stevens Point men's basketball players to score in double figures as the Pointers (0-2) fell at Bethel (2-0) by a 76-55 final on Wednesday.
 
Nelson led the Pointers with 16 points, 12 of which he posted in the first half.  Elijah Vander Velden (Huntington, Ind./Wabash) and AJ Makinen (Waterford, Wis./Muskego) both had 10 points for UWSP.
 
Peter Timmerman (Dubuque, Iowa/Wahlert Catholic) grabbed a team-best seven rebounds, five on the offensive glass.  Ryan Genrich (Mukwonago, Wis./Mukwonago) dished a career-high tying four assists.
 
Nelson buried a three in the opening minute, but the Royals blitzed out to a 15-7 lead less than five minutes in.  Vander Velden hit his second bucket and Darrius Bolden (Glendale, Wis./Nicolet) nailed one of his two makes from long range as UWSP quickly got within three at 15-12.
 
Bethel reeled off seven straight to push the deficit to 10 where it hovered most of the rest of the first half.  Makinen and Bolden each hit from behind the arc late in the stanza, but UWSP trailed 37-28 at the half.
 
Makinen hit again from beyond the arc more than five minutes into the second half for UWSP's first field goal.  The Royals posted a 15-2 run through the middle of he second half as UWSP fell behind by 26 with eight minutes remaining.
 
Genrich and Vander Velden combined for nine points down the stretch, but UWSP was only able to cut the deficit to 13.
 
The Pointers will next face Edgewood on Saturday (Nov. 20) in the home opener.  Tip-off on Bennett Court at Quandt Fieldhouse is set for 7:00 p.m.