Nov. 29, 2000

Box Score

MILWAUKEE - Lesson learned.

The UWM men's basketball team hung tough down the stretch, outscoring Valparaiso 18-11 in the final 10 minutes of the game to claim a 61-59 victory.

Dan Weisse and Jason Frederick scored 12 points apiece to lead a balanced UWM (4-2) attack.

The Crusaders (3-2) led 48-43 with 10:15 to play before the Panthers made their run down the stretch. The Panthers took the lead for good on a Jason Frederick three with 8:15 remaining, then hung on with defense and rebounding. The play down the stretch was in contrast to the struggles UWM experienced Saturday in an 82-80 loss to Canisius, when the Panthers lost a nine-point second half lead.

"Our players needed that," coach Bo Ryan said. "To get one like that against a good team like that, it's a real boost. If we don't have the Canisius game, and learn from it, we probably don't get this one."

Valpo pulled to within two at 58-56 with 1:50 to play, but the Panthers went back up four on a Kalombo Kadima layup off a great feed from Clay Tucker with 25 seconds remaining. On the ensuing Valpo possession, James Wright drew a charge on a Lubos Barton drive to seal the win.

"We take a charge there at the end, by a freshman, because a senior (Chad Angeli) took a charge earlier in the half and he was watching that," Ryan said. "Against Canisius, that guy got all the way to the basket for a three-point play."

For the second consecutive game, Weisse did not commit a turnover. UWM's defense forced 21 turnovers, while limiting the Crusaders to 38 percent shooting in the second half.

"I think you really have to compliment coach Ryan for the way he coaches defense," Valparaiso coach Homer Drew said. "I wish our team played defense the way they played defense. You have to compliment coach Ryan for what he's done with this team in just his second year."

The Crusaders entered the game fresh off a third place finish in the Great Alaskan Shootout, including a win over Ohio State.

"They have a reputation because they've earned it," Ryan said. "We don't have one yet. But we're trying to build one."

Ronnie Jones and Tucker added eight points apiece for the Panthers, who won before a crowd of 3,123, the second-largest crowd for a non-conference game in Klotsche Center history.

UWM returns to action Monday night at Chicago State. The Panthers' three-game road trip also includes visits to Illinois and Wisconsin. UWM returns home Dec. 23 against San Diego.

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