Box Score
Stevens Point 62, Yellowjackets 52
Box Score
Sometimes the difference between winning and losing in the sport of college basketball can be as simple as not making enough shots. And unfortunately for the UW-Superior men's basketball team, that was exactly the scenario that befell the Yellowjackets in their first round WIAC Conference Tournament game against UW-Stevens Point Wednesday night.
The Yellowjackets connected on just 35.4 percent of their shots for the game, including going just 2-of-14 from three-point range in falling to the Pointers 62-52 at Quandt Fieldhouse in Stevens Point.
UW-Superior finishes the season at 14-12 while the Pointers move on to face second-seed River Falls in the WIAC semifinals on Friday.
Neither team was able to gain much of an advantage through the opening 5:21 of the first half, resulting in an 8-4 Pointers' lead after a jumper by Trevor Hass with 14:39 showing on the clock.
The Yellowjackets rallied back, taking the lead at 9-8 on a layup by Bronson Byrne (Chanhassen, Minn./Chaska) with 13:09 left in the half before upping their lead to 11-9 on a baseline jumper by Dustin Ritchie (Superior, Wis./Superior Senior) with 10:43 remaining in the opening frame.
But UW-Stevens Point would come right back, scoring the next eight points to take a 17-11 lead after a short jumper by Joe Ritchay with 7:41 showing on the clock.
The Yellowjackets cut the deficit to 17-15 on a short jumper with 5:50 left in the first half.
UW-Stevens Point again increased the lead before the intermission however, outscoring UW-Superior 11-5 in the final 5:50 for a 28-20 after a long three by Dan Tillema with 10 seconds remaining in the frame.
The Pointers scored the first five points of the second half, getting another jumper by Tillema and a three by Jordan Giordana to up their advantage to 33-20 with 17:15 left in regulation.
UW-Stevens Point eventually took their largest lead of the evening with 13:59 left after an offensive rebound resulted in another three by Tillema that made it a 41-26 Pointers' bulge.
The Yellowjackets continued to battle and cut the deficit to 47-43 with 4:15 remaining in the second half following two free throws by Jarrod Peterson (Plymouth, Minn./Wayzata).
But UW-Superior would get no closer the rest of the way as four free throws by Austin Ryf and two more by Jordan Brezinski in the final 1:12 sealed the win for UW-Stevens Point.
UW-Superior was paced by Aalfs with 17 points while Byrne added 15.
The Pointers were led by Tillema with a game-high 18 points. Ryf, Brezinski, and Ritchay each added 10 points for UW-Stevens Point.
