STEVENS POINT, Wis. – Sophomore Josiah Butler (Appleton, Wis./Fox Valley Lutheran) hit both free throws with 0.9 seconds left to break a tie as the UW-Stevens Point men's basketball team (18-8) survived with an 81-79 win over UW-Whitewater (11-15) in the WIAC Tournament (presented by Culver's) first round.
 
Butler was one of five Pointers in double figures with 15 points. Malik Abdul-Wahid (Brookfield, Wis./Brookfield Central) led UWSP with 18 points and posted a double-double with 11 rebounds. Darrius Bolden (Glendale, Wis./Nicolet), Cal Krohn (Waukesha, Wis./Waukesha West) and Carter Combs (Stevens Point, Wis./SPASH) were also in double figures with 15, 14 and 11 points, respectively.
 
Butler buried a three to tie the game at 5-5 setting off a series of five made three-pointers by UWSP to build a 20-10 lead. Logan Baumgartner (Medford, Wis./Medford) and Blake Kortz (Freedom, Wis./Freedom) got in on the long-range shooting as the Pointers hit 10-of-14 three-pointers in the first half to jump out to a 58-32 lead at halftime.
 
Abdul-Wahid had eight points, four from the free-throw line, as the Warhawks started the second half with a 28-8 burst. Krohn completed an and-one with 5:34 to go as UWSP took a 73-70 lead. Krohn added four more points and Bolden made a layup for a 79-74 lead with 2:11 left.
 
UWW scored the next five points and the game was tied at 79-79 with 2.9 seconds left. As the Pointers brought the ball into the front court, Butler was fouled on a steal attempt. He made both free throws with 0.9 seconds left to give UWSP the win.
 
The Pointers will travel to UW-Platteville for the WIAC semifinals on Wednesday (Feb. 26). Tip-off is slated for 7:00 p.m.