SAN ANTONIO, Texas – The UW-Stevens Point men's basketball team's (8-4) start was equally as hot as the Texas weather, in comparison to Wisconsin, in an 82-72 win over Southwestern (4-10) in UWSP's opening game of the Leslie Robinson Christmas Classic.
 
Jake Buchanan (Kimberly, Wis./Kimberly) posted a career-high 33 points to lead all scorers. He was 10-for-19 from the field, including 6-of-11 from beyond the arc. He also dished eight assists to come close to a double-double.
 
AJ Makinen (Waterford, Wis./Muskego) was also in double figures with 11 points. UWSP had 10 players score in the win.
 
The Pointers came out of the gate red-hot from three-point range hitting seven triples before the Pirates made a field goal. Buchanan and Makinen made three each with Ryan Genrich (Mukwonago, Wis./Mukwonago) hitting the other as UWSP was ahead 23-5 just over seven minutes in.
 
Myles Coleman (Milwaukee, Wis./Brookfield Central) had six quick points and the lead reached 20, 31-11, midway through the half. Brennan Timm (West Bend, Wis./West) completed an and-one to halt a 15-0 run by the Pirates. Buchanan hit two more threes and was up to 21 by the half with UWSP ahead, 49-32.
 
Buchanan hit UWSP's only two field goals in the opening five minutes of the second half as the lead remained in double figures. Ryan Peterson (Eagle River, Wis./Northland Pines) hit UWSP's 11th three of the game and had five quick points as the Pointers pushed the lead back to 15 at 67-52 with 9:12 left.
 
Josiah Gillie (Milwaukee, Wis./West Allis) had four points down the stretch as the lead was still double digits with four minutes to go. Shane Tarjan (Niles, Ill./Loyola Academy) hit two free throws late for his first points at UWSP to help seal the win.
 
The Pointers face host Trinity on Thursday (Dec. 22) for a 2:00 p.m. tipoff in the tournament finale.