SUPERIOR, Wis. – UW-Stevens Point shot over 64 percent from the field in the first half to cruise to a 69-53 victory over the UW-Superior men's basketball team at Mertz Mortorelli Gym on Tuesday.
 
UWS made a second-half push, though, outscoring the Pointers, 31-23, in the final 20 minutes, which included holding the visitors to just 33 percent from the floor.
 
Freshman Mason Ackley (Superior, Wis./Superior Senior) scored a team-high 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting, while senior Vid Milenkovic (Zurich, Switzerland/DSB Belgrade (Serbia)) added 10 points, five rebounds and two blocks for the Yellowjackets (2-4). The Pointers placed three players in double figures in the win, improving to 3-0. Ethan Bublitz had 17 points, five rebounds and two assists to pace UWSP. Aaron Knez and Matt Koerner each contributed 12 points.
 
Stevens Point ran out to a 20-4 start in the first six minutes, making its first seven shots from the floor, including four from long range. Point extended the lead to 27-7 on a Koerner 3-pointer midway through the half and coasted to a 46-22 advantage at the break.
 
The 'Jackets rallied in the second half, cutting the deficit to 18 points a handful of times, including twice early in the half. Colton Williams (Columbia Heights, Minn./Columbia Heights) knocked down a 3-pointer for 52-34 with 14:14 left. Then, Ackley hit a jumper in transition with at the 13:24 mark to again pull UWS within 18 at 54-36.
 
Superior kept the lead under 20 for much of the second half, closing with a jumper from Xavier Patterson (Superior, Wis./Superior Senior) in the paint for the final margin.
 
The Pointers finished 26-for-52 from the field for the game, hitting on nine treys. The 'Jackets shot 41 percent (21-of-51) on the night, while limiting themselves to just 10 turnovers. UWSP held a 33-28 edge on the glass, but the 'Jackets led in points in the paint by a 32-28 count.
 
UWS returns to action Dec. 4 at Northland when it opens Upper Midwest Athletic Conference play. Tip time is 5:30 p.m., at Kendrigan Gym.