Chad Angeli scored 19 points as UWM pulled away from Lipscomb 74-58 Tuesday night at the Klotsche Center.
The Panthers (1-1) led 41-35 with 15:23 to play before starting a 16-3 run to build a 57-38 advantage with 10:09 left. After Lipscomb again pulled to within 10, UWM scored nine straight to rebuild a 19-point advantage at 68-49.
"We had those two explosive spurts," coach Bo Ryan said. "We weren't getting them initially because they were playing hard and getting after us."
Dan Weisse added 13 points and seven assists, while James Wright pitched in with seven points and 12 rebounds. The Panthers outrebounded Lipscomb 39-21, including 18-6 on the offensive glass.
"Those are hustle opportunities," Ryan said. "You don't have to be the biggest team to win the rebounding battle."
For the true freshman Wright, the 12 rebounds are an early career high. The game also provided Wright a chance to bounce back after foul trouble limited his time in the Panthers' loss at Iowa.
"I kind of used that game as a step into the college game," Wright said. "It was nice to get another opportunity to go out there and play."
The Panthers' defense limited Lipscomb to 40 percent shooting from the field, and forced 20 turnovers. The Bisons had only seven assists.
"We were very active defensively," Ryan said. "Seven assists to 20 turnovers - that's a good defensive game."
Lipscomb led only once in the game, grabbing a 6-4 advantage three minutes in. UWM led by as many as 11 points in the first half, and carried an eight-point lead into the locker room.
The Panthers are now 11-3 at home in their one-plus season under Ryan, and UWM bounced back from a loss with a win for the 11th time in 14 tries under Ryan.
The Panthers start a three-game Florida road trip Friday afternoon in Miami, facing Florida Atlantic in the first game of the Florida International Classic. The trip also finds UWM facing Canisius Saturday, and playing at Bethune-Cookman Monday. The Panthers' next home game is Wednesday, Nov. 29, when they entertain Valparaiso.
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