PLATTEVILLE, Wis. – The UW-Stevens Point men's basketball team (18-9) dropped an 83-73 decision at No. 3 UW-Platteville (24-2) in the WIAC Tournament semifinals (presented by Culver's).
 
Josiah Butler (Appleton, Wis./Fox Valley Lutheran) led a trio of Pointers in double figures with 18 points. Darrius Bolden (Glendale, Wis./Nicolet) added 16 and Seth Miron (Appleton, Wis./Kimberly) scored 14 points.
 
Miron and Butler combined for the first 11 points as UWSP took an 11-10 lead six minutes in. Bolden scored six straight for the Pointers, but the Pioneers pulled in front, 24-18, with 6:53 left in the first half. Malik Abdul-Wahid (Brookfield, Wis./Brookfield Central) had a dunk among six points as UWSP finished strong to lead, 30-29 at the half.
 
Miron completed an and-one, hit a three and scored 10-straight points, but the Pointers played from behind early in the second half. Miron and Bolden drained consecutive threes to get UWSP within 57-52.
 
Butler made a layup with 4:29 to go to get UWSP within one at 64-63. Bolden kept the Pointers within a possession with a layup, but a 7-0 burst by the Pioneers put the lead out of reach late.
 
The Pointers' 18 wins are the most since the 2018-19 season. UWSP will now await the final NPI rankings for a potential postseason berth.