YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - Akeem Springs scored a career-high 33 points and the Milwaukee men's basketball team used a huge first-half scoring run to help it on its way to a comfortable 81-65 victory Thursday evening at the Beeghly Center.
 
The Panthers (11-5, 2-1 Horizon League) took control of the game early against the Penguins (6-10, 1-2 Horizon League), using a dominating 20-2 run to open up a first-half lead of over 20 points.
 
"We were fortunate to come on the road and shoot well," Milwaukee head coach Rob Jeter said. "Most road teams don't shoot as well as we did and I think our scoring run early in the first half gave us some confidence."
 
Springs had his previous career-high of 22 points eclipsed early in the second half, with his 33 points also marking a season-high for any Panther this year.
 
"He's been really consistent and it wasn't just three-pointers, he was really hiding beneath that zone – doing a lot of things – getting some rebounds," Jeter said. "I was really impressed with how he played and we asked him to guard one of the better players in this league."
 
Springs' 14-of-18 effort from the field is one of the best-ever in school history, with the 77.8 percent the fourth-best single-game field goal percentage all time. His 14 makes are also the most on the list.
 
Austin Arians came out on fire, making his first three three-pointers on his way to 14 points. JayQuan McCloud finished with a season-high 13 points, his third straight game in double-figures.
 
Matt Tiby just missed a double-double, but it would have been an unconventional one for him, recording a game-high 11 rebounds and a career-best nine assists. Jordan Johnson was at it again, finishing with 10 assists compared to just one turnover.
 
Cameron Morse (18) and Francisco Santiago (17 points/8 rebounds) led Youngstown State.
 
Milwaukee led by as many as 27 in the second half at 67-40 on a three by Arians with 11:46 left. YSU made a dent down the stretch but didn't have the lead under 15 points until the final minutes.
 
"I think for us, we were really concerned and trying to make sure we were guarding them on our defensive end," Jeter said. "The way they shoot the ball, they are capable of rattling off points in a row quickly."
 
For the game, the Panthers finished at 50 percent (30-of-60) from the floor, compared to 42.3 percent (22-of-52) for the 'Guins. UWM won the rebounding battle, 37-24, and had a 22 assists compared to 10 turnovers. It turned 11 offensive boards into a 14-6 advantage in second-chance points.
 
The Panthers trailed early after the Penguins scored the first five of the game, but used eight points in a row as part of an 11-1 spurt to go ahead, 11-6.
 
But that wasn't even close to the biggest run of the half. YSU got back-to-back stops and scored five in a row, drawing it to within three at 19-16 at the 9:02 mark on a pair of free throws.
 
From there it was all Milwaukee and mostly Springs. He scored nine points in a row to start the damage, with Arians' triple from the wing making it 31-16 and forcing a YSU timeout. Springs kept it rolling, eventually scoring 13 points of UWM's 20-2 run, capped by his three-pointer that made it 39-18 with four minutes left to give the Panthers their largest lead of the half at 21.
 
Springs netted 21 points in the first half and made 9-of-10 shots, missing only an alley-oop attempt.
 
Milwaukee came out firing from distance, making five of its first six on the way to sinking eight triples in the first half alone. The team hit 54.8 percent (17-of-31) of its shots in the opening half, holding a commanding 45-28 lead at intermission.
 
The defense was pretty good as well, limiting the Penguins to 33.3 percent (9-of-27) prior to the halftime horn.
 
The Panthers remain in the state of Ohio to take on Cleveland State Saturday. The matinee against the Vikings is set for 2 p.m. CST. The Milwaukee women do play as well as part of a women's/men's doubleheader that day. The first game is scheduled to start at 12 p.m. CST, so the men will more than likely tip later than scheduled.