NORTHFIELD, Minn. – The UW-Stevens Point men's basketball team (1-1) nearly erased a double-digit deficit in the final minutes in an eventual 64-61 loss at St. Olaf (1-2) on Wednesday.
 
Josiah Butler (Appleton, Wis./Fox Valley Lutheran) led the Pointers and tied for the game-high with 20 points. Seth Miron (Appleton, Wis./Kimberly) was also in double figures with 12. Cal Krohn (Waukesha, Wis./Waukesha West) led UWSP with nine rebounds. The Pointers hit 18-of-19 free throws in the game.
 
Butler hit back-to-back jumpers and the Pointers led 4-0 early. Krohn hit a pair of free throws as the Oles put up a 13-2 run. Butler nailed a three and Krohn drilled four more free throws as UWSP stayed close at 21-15. Miron had a couple late buckets and the Pointers trailed 32-23 at the half.
 
Miron had the only field goal early in the second half as the deficit reached 18 with 15:12 remaining. Malik Abdul-Wahid (Brookfield, Wis./Brookfield Central) dunked to spark a 7-0 run capped by a three by Logan Baumgartner (Medford, Wis./Medford). Miron sunk consecutive jumpers as the Pointers got within nine midway through.
 
Myles Coleman (Milwaukee, Wis./Brookfield Central) hit a pair of free throws, but the Oles built the lead back to 14 with 6:04 to go. Butler scored UWSP's next 10 points, including two and-ones, as UWSP chipped away, 58-52. Abdul-Wahid scored four-straight with another dunk to get the Pointers within 58-56. St. Olaf hit a three with 39 seconds left to dash UWSP hopes late.
 
The Pointers return home to face Edgewood on Saturday (Nov. 18). Tip-off on Bennett Court at Quandt Fieldhouse is set for 3:00 p.m.