The No. 10 Pointers (14-2, 7-0 WIAC) jumped out to a 10-0 lead to open the game, but the Eagles chipped away and came to within 25-22 at halftime despite shooting just 24 percent from the floor.
UWSP reached a double-digit lead in the second half when Sean McGann (Baraboo, WI/Baraboo) tipped in an offensive rebound to put the Pointers on top 52-41 with 8:20 remaining in the second half.
The Eagles (12-4, 5-2 WIAC) came to within 58-57 with one minute remaining when Trent Schmidt hit a jump shot.
However, a pair of free-throws by both Trevor Hass (New London, WI/New London/Augustana (SD)) and Austin Ryf (Winneconne, WI/Winneconne) in the closing seconds put UW-La Crosse out of reach.
Joe Ritchay (Wisconsin Rapids, WI/Lincoln) led all scorers with 14 points while Hass added 12 points and a season-high eight rebounds.
Ryf finished with 11 points, five rebounds and five assists in the win.
UWSP outrebounded UW-Lacrosse 36-26.
The Pointer defense held the Eagles to just 34.6 percent shooting from the field as UWSP held the lead for the entire game.
UWSP caps off a three-game home stretch when it hosts UW-Platteville Wednesday, Jan. 16 at 7 p.m.
