STEVENS POINT, Wis. – The No. 23 UW-Stevens Point men's basketball team (19-7) fell behind 12-0 and never fully recovered in an 82-63 loss to No. 18 UW-La Crosse (21-6) in the WIAC Tournament (presented by Culver's) semifinals.
 
Josiah Butler (Appleton, Wis./Fox Valley Lutheran), Logan Baumgartner (Medford, Wis./Medford) and Max Raimer (Sun Prairie, Wis./East) were all in double figures for the Pointers with 20, 18 and 12 points, respectively. Carter Combs (Stevens Point, Wis./SPASH) had a game-high nine rebounds.
 
The visiting Eagles jumped out to a 12-0 lead as the Pointers missed on their first seven field goal attempts. Baumgartner buried a three and a Raimer layup got UWSP within 14-7. Butler and Baumgartner combined for three three-point makes, but UWL kept a multi-possession lead. Raimer had four points late as UWSP was down, 41-29, at halftime.
 
Grant Manz (Kiel, Wis./Kiel) and Seth Miron (Appleton, Wis./Kimberly) each made an early bucket in the second half. Miron, Baumgartner and Butler each hit a three-pointer as UWSP briefly cut the deficit to single digits.
 
Butler hit another three and had five-straight points for UWSP to get within 64-57. UWL closed the final 4:10 of the game with an 18-6 run.
 
The Pointers will await Monday's (Mar. 2) NCAA Selection Show at 12:00 p.m. to find out the opponent and location of their first round matchup.