Nov. 21, 2001

Box Score

KALAMAZOO, Mich. - Robby Collum buried a three-point shot from the top of the key with 13.8 seconds remaining to give Western Michigan an 81-80 win over UWM Wednesday night at University Arena.

The Panthers (1-1) led 79-75 following a Dan Weisse three with 1:47 remaining. The Broncos (2-2) pulled within 79-78 on a three from Ben Reed with a minute remaining. Following a single free throw from Kalombo Kadima with 32.7 seconds left, Reed tried a three from the right wing but missed. The rebound appeared headed out of bounds but was saved in play by Weisse into the hands of Collum, who knocked in the game-winner.

Jason Frederick missed a three-point shot from the right corner as time expired.

Steve Reynolds led all scorers with 32 points for Western Michigan. Clay Tucker and Frederick scored 19 points apiece for the Panthers.

"I felt like we were in control of the game," UWM head coach Bruce Pearl said. "I thought our kids played really well. Western Michigan is a good basketball team and they are well-coached. In a one-point game, someone is going to go away heartbroken. Our kids deserved to win tonight."

The Panthers appeared to take control of the game with an 8-1 run during a three-minute stretch of the second half. Up just 63-59 following a Reynolds three with 9:10 remaining, the Panthers scored four straight on a layin by Frederick and a Wright dunk on a runout. Following a single Bronco free throw, UWM added four more points by Frederick to build a 71-60 advantage with 6:28 to play.

But, Western Michigan responded with an 11-0 run of its own, six of the points coming from Reynolds, pulling the Broncos into a 71-all tie with 3:15 to play and setting up the final moments of the game.

UWM used a burst midway through the second half to build a 61-54 advantage with 11:40 to play. The Panthers trailed 50-49 following six straight points by the Broncos. But UWM responded with a 12-4 run, with every point scored off of a layup or dunk. The run started with a Weisse layin, included a layin by Kalombo Kadima and a steal and dunk by James Wright, and was capped by a layup by Chris Hill followed by a steal and layup by Tucker.

After falling behind 9-4 early in the first half, UWM rallied to build a 10-point advantage. The Panther lead was 18-17 before a 12-3 run gave UWM a 30-20 advantage. The Broncos rallied with 13-straight point to grab a 33-30 advantage, but the Panthers again struck back, grabbing a 42-40 halftime advantage thanks to seven points from Justin Lettenberger in the final five minutes of the half.

Both teams shot well in the first half. The Panthers shot 53 percent from the field and made 7-of-14 from three-point range. The Broncos shot almost 49 percent from the field and made 6-of-12 three-point shots.

The Panthers return to action Saturday night traveling to Valparaiso. The tipoff is set for 7 p.m. CST and the game can be heard on 1290 AM, WMCS.