Coming off a tough loss against UW-Eau Claire on Wednesday evening, the UW-Superior men's basketball team entered Saturday's conference tilt with UW-Stevens Point looking to start off a three-game home stand with a resounding victory.

But the Pointers proved to have other plans, limiting the Yellowjackets to just 33 percent shooting and getting a balanced all-around effort to down UW-Superior 71-56 at Mertz Mortorelli Gymnasium.

The Yellowjackets found themselves trailing just 7-6 four minutes into the game, getting a long jumper from Jake Smith (Rhinelander, Wis.) and two inside baskets from Greg Roeder (Mercer, Wis.) in the opening minutes of action.

UW-Stevens Point (13-3 overall, 5-2 WIAC) would slowly begin to take control however, taking 25-19 lead with less than eight minutes to play in the first and then expanding it 30-21 thanks to a three-pointer from Tyler Tillema and a three-point play from Jerrel Harris with just over five minutes remaining in the opening half.

Trailing 36-25 with less than two minutes left in the first half, the Yellowjackets (10-6, 2-5) went on a 6-2 run, getting two three-pointers from Smith in the final two minutes to cut the deficit to 38-31 at the intermission.

But the Pointers would again pull away early in the second half, taking holding off an early Yellowjacket push to up their lead to 60-47 with just over three minutes remaining in regulation.

From there, UW-Stevens Point would expand their lead to as many as 18 at 71-53 with just over a minute showing on the clock before claiming the victory.

The Yellowjackets were led by Smith's 14 points while Roeder added 12 points and seven rebounds.  Marcus Helland (Baldwin, Wis.) added 10 points for UW-Superior as well.

UW-Stevens Point was led by Harris' game-high 19 points.  Jordan Brezinski added 14 points for the Pointers as well while Tyler Tillema added 11 points.

The Yellowjackets return to action Wednesday when they host UW-Stout starting at 7 p.m.