Nov. 20, 1999

MT. PLEASANT, Mich. - The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men's basketball team is off to a 1-0 start on the season with a 69-68 win over Central Michigan tonight that can be called no less than incredible.

Down by two points with 4.3 seconds left in the game, the Panthers inbounded the ball to redshirt freshman Clay Tucker (F, Lima, Ohio) who took the ball down the court and drained a three-point buzzer shot to win the game. Tucker played well above his freshman status, knocking down 24 points, 3 assists, 2 steals and 8 rebounds with the steadiness of a seasoned starter, while leading the Panthers to their first win of the season and their first win under head coach Bo Ryan.

"Most freshmen would go into the paint after two turnovers, but we practiced this type of shot and I took it," said Tucker of his game-winning shot. "When I saw it was good, it felt incredible."

After going to the locker room at halftime with a three-point deficit, the Panthers poured it on in the second half, leading by as many as 10 points early in the half. The team upped its first-half shooting from 35.7 to 53.8 percent in the second half. The Panthers shot 44.4 overall from three-point range, thanks in large part to Tucker's seven three-pointers during the game -- five in the second half alone.

After getting in early foul trouble and sitting out most of the first half, junior Chad Angeli played 19 minutes in the second half, going 4-5 from the field and scoring 10 of his 12 points. Senior Shaun Fountain (G, Columbus, Ohio) also added 12 points, along with three assists and three steals.

"It feels good to win," said Fountain. "We're getting a little more confident and the freshmen see how tough it is to play Division I basketball and know they have to learn to handle the pressure-to be calm and collect."

The Panthers begin preparing for their non-conference match-up Tuesday, Nov. 23, against UW-Madison, scheduled for 7 p.m. in UWM's Klotsche Center.