Pointers rally in second to take win over UW-Stout

UW-Stout led UW-Stevens Point for much of the first half, but the Pointers pulled away after the break, winning both teams' conference opener, 79-68, Wednesday night at Johnson Fieldhouse.

The Blue Devils (3-3, 0-1 WIAC), who started out hot from beyond the arc, took their first lead five and a half minutes into the game.  They started building their lead around the halfway point of the first half.  Erik Olson and Eric Hostetter  both hit three-pointers on an 8-0 run.  Minutes later, Steve Pax hit a three, followed by five points from Hostetter, to grab Stout's largest lead of the game, 27-17. 

Just before half, Stevens Point's (4-0, 1-0 WIAC) Jordan Giordana and Scott Hoelzel each converted a three-point play to gain back some momentum going into the break.  Both teams shot 14-for-32 in the first half, with Stout having the slight edge in free throws and three pointers.

The Pointers went on a 10-0 run early in the second half to take a five-point lead, their first lead since five minutes into the first half.  Stevens Point stretched their lead to 11 points with 7:32 remaining after a 7-0 run.  Stout was unable to cut their deficit to less than eight the rest of the game.

Point's Louis Hurd led all players with 18 points, 13 of which came in the second half.  Hostetter led the Blue Devils with 17.  Mahlon Thomas led the field with eight rebounds.

Stout shot 43 percent from three in the first half, but dropped that clip to 18 percent in the second.  Their field goal percentage dropped from 44 to 33.