STEVENS POINT, Wis. – The UW-Stevens Point men's basketball team (14-12) is moving on after a 76-70 win over UW-Whitewater (17-9) in the first round of the WIAC Tournament (presented by Culver's). UWSP built a large early lead and clutch free throws down the stretch helped to secure the win.
 
Malik Abdul-Wahid (Brookfield, Wis./Brookfield Central) led all scorers with 18 points. Darrius Bolden (Glendale, Wis./Nicolet) added 16, including an 8-for-10 night at the charity stripe. Seth Miron (Appleton, Wis./Kimberly) was also in double figures with 10 points. Abdul-Wahid and Bolden had five boards apiece to lead the Pointers.
 
Josiah Butler (Appleton, Wis./Fox Valley Lutheran) nailed a three to begin the scoring. Abdul-Wahid, Butler and Miron combined for 17 of the Pointers' next 19 points as UWSP opened up a 22-7 advantage.
 
Abdul-Wahid added four more points, but the Warhawks clawed all the way back for a 28-28 tie with 5:24 remaining in the first half. Jake Buchanan (Kimberly, Wis./Kimberly) hit a three and Josiah Gillie (Milwaukee, Wis./West Allis) had four points as the Pointers held a slim 37-36 edge at the half.
 
Bolden scored a layup nearly five minutes into the second half as UWSP trailed by five, 45-40. He drilled a three as UWSP stayed within a possession midway through.
 
Logan Baumgartner (Medford, Wis./Medford) buried a big three as UWSP regained the lead, 58-57. Then with just under five minutes left, Bolden hit a pair of free throws and nailed a three on the next possession to put the Pointers up, 69-63. Bolden made four more free throws as the Pointers held off a late charge by UWW.

The Pointers advance to the semifinals and will travel to UW-River Falls on Thursday (Feb. 22). Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m.