Pointers Aiming At Final Four

NCAA Sectional Media Release 3.13.04
Brian Sponsler (253.879.3974) Sports Information and Promotions Specialist
bsponsler@ups.edu
http:www.ups.edu/athletics

Pointers Aiming At Final Four

Tacoma, Wash - UW-Stevens Point is headed to Salem on the heels of a thrilling 82-81 overtime victory over instate rival Lawrence University Saturday night in Tacoma. Post Eric Maus hit the game winning 12-foot jumper from the left baseline with five seconds on the clock to send the Pointers to the Division III Final Four. Stevens Point will play John Carroll, who advanced earlier in the night with a 70-64 win over Wooster.

Junior Nick Bennett led his team offensively for the second night in a row, hitting a three-pointer with nine seconds on the clock to force overtime. Bennett scored four of his teams ten overtime points and assisted on the game winning shot on his way to a game high 25 points.

Lawrence got off to a solid start, using the hot shooting hand of guard Jason Holinbeck to move-out to a 38-28 lead with 3:39 to go in the first half. Stevens Point answered with an 8-0 run of their own, relying on the inside game of Maus to pull them back to within two. After a Chris Braier jumper gave the Beavers a four point edge, Stevens Point his a half-court shot at the buzzer for the second night in a row to cut the lead to one at the break. The teams entered the half with the score Lawrence 40, Stevens Point 39.

In the second-half neither team could build a lead bigger than four points, as the teams traded baskets, Lawrence doing most of their damage from the outside while Stevens Point utilized solid post-play. The half featured five ties, the last of which came on Bennett's' three with nine seconds on the clock, forcing overtime with the team knotted at 72 apiece.


In overtime Lawrence got up three on a pair of MacGillis free throws, only to see Bennett score four straight points to give the Pointers a slim lead. Two Braier foul shots reclaimed the lead for the Beavers, with 46 ticks on the clock. After a Stevens Point score Braier gave what would be the final lead of the night to Lawrence on a jumper in the paint, putting the Beavers up 81-80 with twenty seconds to play, setting the stage for Maus' heroics.


Senior Chris MacGillis led his team with 22 points on 7 of 14 shooting in his final game as a Beaver. Holinbeck contributed 18 points on 6 of 8 shooting from three-point distance. Forward Jason Kalsow had a great night for Stevens Points, recording a double-double with 20 points and 10 rebounds.

The Beavers end their season at 24-5, having advanced to the schools first Sectional Final. UW-Stevens Point (27-5) was making their third Elite Eight appearance is the past seven years
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Official Basketball Box Score
Lawrence University vs UW-Stevens Point
3/13/04 7:00pm at Tacoma, Washington
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VISITORS: Lawrence University 24-5
TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS
## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN
25 Dan Evans........... * 4-5 2-2 0-0 0 6 6 3 10 1 7 0 0 34
30 Rob Nenahlo......... * 3-7 1-2 0-0 0 1 1 2 7 2 2 0 0 23
32 Brendan Falls....... * 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 1 1 2 0 2 0 0 2 12
34 Chris Braier........ * 7-15 2-3 2-2 1 6 7 3 18 2 3 1 0 41
45 Tony Olson.......... * 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8
11 Aaron Sorenson...... 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 1 1 2 0 2 0 0 0 11
21 Kyle MacGillis...... 1-4 0-1 4-6 0 3 3 3 6 4 1 0 1 22
24 Jason Holinbeck..... 6-8 6-8 0-0 1 0 1 2 18 1 2 0 0 33
33 Chris MacGillis..... 7-14 4-7 4-4 0 3 3 1 22 1 0 0 2 38
42 Ben Klekamp......... 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3
TEAM................ 1 1 2
Totals.............. 28-53 15-23 10-12 3 22 25 18 81 15 15 1 5 225


TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 15-24 62.5% 2nd Half: 11-24 45.8% OT: 2-5 40.0% Game: 52.8% DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 8-10 80.0% 2nd Half: 6-11 54.5% OT: 1-2 50.0% Game: 65.2% REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 2-2 100 % 2nd Half: 4-6 66.7% OT: 4-4 100 % Game: 83.3% 1,1


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HOME TEAM: UW-Stevens Point 27-5
TOT-FG 3-PT REBOUNDS
## Player Name FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF TP A TO BLK S MIN
10 Relerford, Tamaris.. * 3-6 2-5 0-0 0 1 1 0 8 3 0 0 0 33
33 Bennett, Nick....... * 9-17 2-6 5-6 0 3 3 1 25 3 1 0 0 40
34 Krull, Jon.......... * 4-4 0-0 2-2 2 0 2 2 10 1 3 0 2 30
40 Maus, Eric.......... * 6-10 0-0 0-0 3 6 9 2 12 1 1 0 1 42
44 Kalsow, Jason....... * 9-19 0-2 2-2 3 7 10 4 20 0 3 0 0 35
20 Krajnik, Neal....... 1-3 1-2 0-0 0 0 0 1 3 2 0 0 0 21
25 Grusczynski, Kyle... 0-2 0-1 2-3 0 1 1 0 2 0 1 0 0 12
42 Bauer, Brian........ 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 3
45 Prey, Mike.......... 1-1 0-0 0-0 0 2 2 1 2 0 1 0 0 9
TEAM................ 2 2
Totals.............. 33-62 5-16 11-13 8 22 30 11 82 11 10 0 3 225


TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 16-29 55.2% 2nd Half: 13-25 52.0% OT: 4-8 50.0% Game: 53.2% DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half: 3-9 33.3% 2nd Half: 2-5 40.0% OT: 0-2 0.0% Game: 31.3% REBS
F Throw % 1st Half: 4-5 80.0% 2nd Half: 5-6 83.3% OT: 2-2 100 % Game: 84.6% 0,1


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Officials: Randy Burkart, Clay Henry, Mike Peterson
Technical fouls: Lawrence University-None. UW-Stevens Point-None.
Attendance: 245
Score by Periods 1st 2nd OT Total
Lawrence University........... 40 32 9 - 81
UW-Stevens Point.............. 39 33 10 - 82
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Brian Sponsler, MA
Sports Information/Promotions Specialist
University of Puget Sound
bsponsler@ups.edu
253-879-3974 (office)