RIVER FALLS, Wis. – The No. 18 UW-Stevens point men's basketball team (12-3, 2-2) averted a buzzer-beater late to secure a 55-53 win at UW-River Falls (7-8, 1-3) on Wednesday night.
 
Josiah Butler (Appleton, Wis./Fox Valley Lutheran) led all scorers with 19 points. He also snagged a game-high seven rebounds. Darrius Bolden (Glendale, Wis./Nicolet) was also in double figures with 11 points.
 
Butler had three points early for a 6-5 edge. The Falcons put up six straight before Butler responded with five of his own. Bolden tied the game at 13-13 with a fastbreak layup.
 
Bolden scored four-straight points as UWSP built a 23-17 lead. Malik Abdul-Wahid (Brookfield, Wis./Brookfield Central) and Bolden each hit a three-pointer as UWSP took a 32-24 lead at the break.
 
Abdul-Wahid buried a three early in the second half as the Pointers' lead reached 14. Butler pushed the lead back to 14 with a jumper with 14:13 remaining. Logan Baumgartner (Medford, Wis./Medford) made a pair of layups for a 50-40 lead with 8:29 to go.
 
Butler scored with 5:10 left as UWSP held a 52-44 lead. UWRF got within three before Bolden made a jumper with 3:02 left in regulation. The Falcons completed an and-one with 2:10 to go and neither team scored the remainder of regulation.
 
The Pointers return home to face UW-Stout on Saturday (Jan. 18). Tip-off in Quant Fieldhouse is set for 5:00 p.m.