Jan. 19, 2002

Box Score

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Clay Tucker hit a three-point shot as time expired to give UWM a 73-72 win over 25th-ranked Butler - its first-ever win over a ranked opponent - and its first-ever win at Hinkle Fieldhouse.

Tucker's game-winner from beyond the top of the key completed a Panther comeback that saw UWM rebound from a 13-point deficit midway through the second half.

The Panthers (10-8, 5-1 Horizon League) pulled within two at 72-70 on an Adrian Tigert layin with 47.9 seconds remaining. UWM then forced a turnover by Thomas Jackson to get the ball back with 26.5 seconds remaining for a final possession.

On the final possession, Tucker caught the ball at the top of the key and pumped-faked before launching a high-arcing shot that went through as the buzzer sounded.

The win for UWM breaks a 17-game losing streak against Butler (16-3, 3-3) and keeps the Panthers in second place in the Horizon League, one game back of Loyola. Tucker scored 24 points while Ronnie Jones added 13 and Adrian Tigert tallied 10 points and 11 rebounds for UWM.

Tucker said there was never a doubt in his mind he wanted a three-point shot on the final possession.

"I'm a guy that takes risks," Tucker said. "There's no way I was going to take a two-point shot to send the game into overtime."

"Tonight on Sports Center, that shot will be seen around the country," UWM head coach Bruce Pearl said. "That's something that these kids can treasure. Clay was clearly supposed to get the ball. He certainly cleared his own shot from three. Once he got the ball, we didn't do a very good job of getting him open. But he didn't need much room."

The win continues the best start in league history for the Panthers, who have won three straight games and all three of their league road contests.

"I'm happy for the kids because they've worked so hard," Pearl said. "We've been in these positions before and not always capitalized. I continue to hear from people around the country who are impressed with our effort and the tenacity of our pressure."

UWM started its comeback from 13 point down by knocking down back-to-back three-point shots in a 10-second span, pulling the Panthers back to seven at 50-43 with 11:08 remaining. UWM eventually pulled back to within two at 62-60 on a Jones layin with 5:05 left. Butler rebuilt a six-point edge at 70-64 with 2:30 left before the Panthers finished with a flurry.

Butler built their 13-point lead with a 20-9 burst in the first seven-plus minutes of the second half. The lead remained at 50-37 with 11:39 remaining before the Panthers started their comeback.

"We know the game of basketball is played in runs," Tucker said of UWM's comeback. "We stayed together. We stayed positive. We got stops and got baskets on our end."

The lead changed hands 12 times during an even first half. Both teams led by as many as three points, but Butler scored the final five points of the half to lead 28-26 heading into the locker room. Both teams shot 11-of-28 from the field in the first stanza, with Jackson scoring 13 points for Butler and Tucker scoring 10 points for UWM.

UWM returns home to start a three-game homestand Thursday night, welcoming Cleveland State to the Klotsche Center. The game tips off at 7 p.m.