Nov 30, 2001

Box Score

Ames, Iowa - Jason Frederick scored 18 points and Clay Tucker added 15, but it wasn't enough as the Panthers missed out on their bid to upset Iowa State on their home floor, falling 71-62, in the second game of the Cyclone Challenge.

After Iowa State's Marcus Jefferson opened up the game with a three pointer, UWM's Jason Frederick returned the favor with a three of his own. UWM would not trail the remainder of the first half, as they took a 29-27 lead into the locker room. Frederick had 10 points at the break to lead all scorers at halftime.

"We made some plays in a hostile environment, but it was basically the same story as it has been all year," head coach Bruce Pearl said. "They outrebounded us by 25, went to the line 42 times compared to our 18.

UWM had the halftime lead in part because of 46 percent shooting from the floor, while the Cyclones shot just 32 percent. The Panthers also had five steals in the first half, though they were out-rebounded 22-12 at the intermission.

The Cyclones came out smoking in the second half, beginning the second period with an 11-4 run to take a five-point lead. The Panthers would recover, tying the game with a pair of free throws by James Wright with 12:33 left. A Chris Hill layup put UWM back on top, 43-41, with 11:25 remaining.

"Jason Frederick and Clay Tucker shot very well from outside and they kept us in the game," Pearl said. "Chris Hill really sparked us coming off the bench."

But Iowa State had just too much inside power for the Panthers to handle. The Cyclones wound up the game with a 49-24 advantage in rebounds, including 26 offensive rebounds. Foul trouble also got the Panthers into trouble, as Dylan Page fouled out with nearly four minutes remaining. Three other Panthers ended the game with four personal fouls. The Cyclones's Ricky Morgan would foul out 10 seconds after Page, but he was the only Cyclone in foul trouble. No other Iowa State player ended the game with more than three fouls.

"The two players we lost off last year's team, Chad Angeli and Mike Sowder, they were both 6-9, and took up a lot of space. The young kids we got to replace them haven't been competitive at this level yet."

Six consecutive free throws, five by Omar Bynum, gave the Cyclones the lead back with five minutes to play. UWM kept the game close, with Chris Hill hitting a pair of free throws and Clay Tucker adding another, to keep UWM down by just one, 55-54.

But the Cyclones would prove too tough. A jumper in the lane by Shane Power put the Cyclones up by six with 2:11 left to play. UWM wouldn't die, though, as Frederick hit a three with 1:29 to play that brought the Panthers to within five. Tucker hit another three after a pair of ISU free throws that closed the margin to four, but that was as close as they would get.

For the game, UWM would shoot 43 percent from the floor, including 41 percent from beyond the three point arc. The Panthers held the Cyclones to just 37 percent from the floor and 17 percent from three point range.

UWM returns to action Saturday night as they take on Nebraska-Omaha, a 65-59 winner over San Jose State in the opening game of the Cyclone Challenge.