Nov. 19, 2000

IOWA CITY, Iowa - The University of Iowa overcame a 15-point first half deficit, then had to fight off a valiant UWM effort down the stretch to claim an 83-79 victory.

UWM closed to within two points twice in the final minute - first on a running one-handed bank shot by Kalombo Kadima with 43.6 seconds to play, then again on a Chad Angeli layin with 14 seconds remaining. Dean Oliver made two free throws with 8.6 seconds remaining to account for the final margin.

Angeli led UWM with 23 points, while three other Panthers scored in double figures.

"We came in here with the idea that we could get this done," UWM coach Bo Ryan said. "I thought, in a year's time, we've improved in some areas. It just didn't show for 40 minutes tonight."

Iowa took the lead for the first time, 48-47, on a Luke Recker layin with 18:13 to play in the game. Recker followed with a three to give the Hawkeyes a four-point lead, and the first nine points of the second half. The Hawkeyes largest lead of the second half was seven - the final time coming at 73-66 with 6:25 to play.

UWM used a 23-9 run to build a 30-15 lead with 9:37 to play in the first half. But, Iowa countered, scoring 20 of the next 27 points to pull within 37-35 at the 3:58 mark, forcing a Panther timeout. The Panther lead again grew to 10 on a Dan Weisse three-point basket and free throw with a minute to play in the half, but Iowa scored the final five points of the first half to pull within 47-42 at halftime.

UWM built that 15-point advantage on the strength of great shooting, at one point making 12-of-18 field goals, including three, three-point goals from Kalombo Kadima, and single three's from Jason Frederick, Dan Weisse, and Justin Lettenberger.

"I was very proud of the way our kids responded to the environment. It's a difficult place to play," Ryan said.

UWM was outrebounded 43-27, including 15-9 on the offensive glass. The advantage was especially apparent in the second half, when the Hawkeyes outrebounded the Panthers 25-11, including 8-4 on the offensive end.

"They got on the boards," Ryan said. "They pounded us pretty good on the offensive glass in the second half. Plus, we didn't touch the post in the second half as much as I would like. They jammed the middle better, and we didn't get to the free throw line."

The Panthers return to action Tuesday night, welcoming Lipscomb (Tenn.) to the Klotsche Center. The Bison opened their season with an 84-77 win over Athens State (Ala.) Saturday night. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.

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