APPLETON, Wis. -- The Lawrence University men's basketball team's run in the NCAA Division III Tournament came to a rough halt Saturday night at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.
The Pointers, the defending national champions, parlayed great shooting and tough defense into a 79-45 win over the Vikings in a second-round game. Lawrence, champions of the Midwest Conference, finished the season with a 20-6 record.
Dan Evans, battling the flu, scored 10 points to pace the Vikings. Brendan Falls added nine points and Chris Braier had seven points and seven rebounds. Nick Bennett led the Pointers (25-3) with 23 points, Jason Kalsow had 15, and Jon Krull added 13.
Lawrence took an 18-17 lead on Kyle MacGillis' jumper with 11:18 left in the first half. The Pointers took over from there and immediately went on a 10-0 run. Stevens Point led 36-26 at the half.
Stevens Point opened the second half with a 24-5 run to grab a 60-31 lead with 12:35 left and cruised from there.
This marks the second consecutive season the Pointers have knocked Lawrence from the tournament. Stevens Point beat Lawrence in the quarterfinals 82-81 in overtime last season in Tacoma, Wash.