EAU CLAIRE, Wis. – The UW-Stevens Point men's basketball team (3-15, 0-11) fell short in a 60-59 loss at UW-Eau Claire (11-13, 4-9).
 
Jake Buchanan (Kimberly, Wis./Kimberly) led all scorers with 18 points on 7-for 11 shooting from the field.  He hit three three-pointers.
 
Brennan Timm (West Bend, Wis./West) and Garrett Nelson (Beaver Dam, Wis./Beaver Dam) were also in double figures with 12 points apiece. Timm led the Pointers with eight rebounds.
 
Zach Mootz (Merrill, Wis./Merrill) sunk a three to halt a 9-2 run by UWEC to open the game.  Timm hit a pair of layups as UWSP tried to erase an early nine-point deficit. Brady Wagner (Lake Mills, Wis./Lake Mills) drilled a three and Darrius Bolden (Glendale, Wis./Nicolet) buried another long-range shot as UWSP rallied back to a 17-17 tie.
 
Buchanan scored his first points of the game with 1:59 left in the first half. Timm added a late bucket as UWSP trailed 29-24 at the break.
 
Buchanan drilled a pair of three early in the second half and completed an and-one to get UWSP within one at 40-39.  Wagner hit a three amid a 16-6 run by the Blugolds as the UWSP deficit hit double digits with 7:52 remaining.
 
Timm and Buchanan combined for 10 points as UWSP closed to within 58-55. Back-to-back layups by Nelson gave UWSP a 59-58 lead with 2:11 to go. UWEC regained the lead with 54 seconds remaining and UWSP missed three potential go-ahead shots in the final minute.
 
The Pointers wrap up the regular season on Wednesday (Feb. 16) at home against UW-River Falls. Game time is set for 7:00 p.m. at Quandt Fieldhouse.