Dec 8, 2001
Box Score
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Clay Tucker and Ronnie Jones each recorded career highs and UWM overcame a 21-point second-half deficit to claim an 80-78 overtime win over Virginia Tech Saturday night at the Jim Thorpe Association Classic.
Tucker collected 29 points and Jones added 25 for the Panthers (4-4), who beat a Big East team for the first time in school history. A Jones three-point shot with 1.9 seconds remaining in regulation tied the game and another three by Jones with 1:31 to play in overtime gave the Panthers the lead for good.
"Our kids never felt like they were out of it," UWM head coach Bruce Pearl said. "This is probably the biggest win in the history of our program. The thrills of a victory like that are unparalled in any walk of life that I know of. You could just feel we were going to make plays. I want this win to catapult this team this season into competing with the best teams in our league."
UWM trailed 58-37 following a three-point shot by Brian Chase with 10:27 to play in regulation. The Panthers ran off eight straight points to pull within 58-45, then closed the advantage to nine at 60-51 following a three-point shot by Tucker.
The Panthers eventually pulled to within four at 63-59 following a Justin Lettenberger layup with 4:49 to play, but Virginia Tech again pushed the lead to nine at 70-61 with 2:28 to play.
UWM then fought back to force overtime, pulling within 70-67 on back-to-back threes by Tucker and Jones. Following two free throws by Chase, a Tucker layup made it 72-69 and a single free throw by Jones with 10.4 seconds remaining made it 72-70. Chase then made a single free throw with 8.7 seconds remaining before Jones' three forced overtime.
In the extra session, Virginia Tech led by two until the Jones three with 1:31 left. Jones then hit three-of-four free throws down the stretch and Chase missed a three at the buzzer.
UWM's pressure defense sparked the Panthers' amazing comeback. UWM forced a school-record 30 turnovers and the Panthers collected 15 steals. The defense helped UWM overcome 36 percent shooting from the field and a 48-31 rebounding disadvantage.
"The fans here fell in love with this basketball team in the second half," Pearl said, noting the Louisville partisans got behind the Panthers in the second half and in overtime. "You're never out of it with the press."
Jones scored his career-high 25 points one night after scoring a career-high 22 in the loss to Louisville. Jones made his first start of the season Saturday night.
"This was his first game in the starting lineup," Pearl said. "It took me three months to figure out he might be one of our best players. To his credit, he accepted coming off the bench and in the last couple of weeks, earned this start."
UWM begins a three-game homestand next Saturday night, welcoming Western Michigan to the Klotsche Center for a 7 p.m. contest.
