Jan 5, 2002

Box Score

MILWAUKEE - UWM rode a strong defensive effort and the best night of freshman Adrian Tigert's career to a 63-51 win over UW-Green Bay, sending the Panthers to their best start in league history.

Tigert scored 15 points on 7-of-9 shooting from the field, while Clay Tucker added 13 points and 11 rebounds in recording his second double-double of the season for the Panthers (7-7, 2-0 Horizon). Aaron Jessup led UW-Green Bay (3-9, 0-1 Horizon) with 12 points, as the Phoenix fell for the fourth straight year at the Klotsche Center.

UWM's win, combined with losses by Wright State and UIC, leaves the Panthers tied with Loyola atop the Horizon League standings. The two teams meet Thursday night at the Klotsche Center.

UWM's lead, which reached 11 points in the first half and hit 12 early in the second half, was trimmed to three points following a pair of Greg Babcock free throws with 9:39 remaining. But, the Panthers responded by scoring nine of the next 11 points for a 53-43 lead, and Green Bay could get no closer than eight points the rest of the way.

"Games in-state are so important because we compete against Green Bay on the court and we compete against them in recruiting," UWM head coach Bruce Pearl said. "I told the guys that from an outsider's perspective, Green Bay has a name, and people know what Dick Bennett built there. Our focus is to keep getting ourselves on the map. You need to take care of business at home and within the state."

The Panthers, who had relied heavily on the three-point shot in recent games, went inside early and often to Tigert, who recorded the best offensive game of his career.

"We have to have an inside presence if we're going to win in this league," Pearl said.

The Panthers held UWGB to just 39 percent shooting from the field and forced the Phoenix into 19 turnovers. UWM also limited Green Bay to just 2-of-16 from three-point range.

"I thought both teams played hard tonight," UWGB head coach Mike Heideman said. "A lot of energy was expended on the floor. You cannot win a basketball game turning the ball over 19 times - not at this level."

The crowd of 3,689 was the eighth-largest crowd in Klotsche Center history.

UWM returns to action Thursday night against Loyola at 7 p.m.