Dec. 11, 2002

Box Score

MILWAUKEE - Dylan Page scored a career-high 25 points and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee's pressure defense forced 24 turnovers as the Panthers claimed a 75-61 win over Valparaiso Wednesday night at the Klotsche Center.

The Panthers (6-2) are off to their best start since the 1992-93 season. UWM has also won five-straight games, equaling its best streak since that same season.

UWM trailed 34-33 at halftime after committing 14 turnovers of its own. But the Panthers used an 11-0 run to take a 53-41 lead with 11:31 to play and Valpo (2-4) could get no closer than six points the rest of the way.

UWM also did it without the full services of senior Clay Tucker, who played just 16 minutes due to back spasms and did not score. The Panthers' bench picked up the slack, though, as Dan Weisse scored nine points, Jose Winston eight and Justin Lettenberger seven.

"It's a game we wouldn't have won last year. We turned the ball over a lot and were disrupted at times," UWM head coach Bruce Pearl said. "To be able to win a game without our best players is a tribute to the depth of our team."

Page made eight of his 11 field goals and all eight of his free throws in moving into the team lead in scoring this season.

"Dylan is certainly making me look like I know what I'm talking about in saying this would be his coming out," Pearl said. "But he's finally healthy, knock on wood."

UWM built an early 14-9 lead but saw Valpo rally to grab a 24-20 advantage. The lead was still 32-28 before the Panthers scored five-straight points for a 33-32 edge. But the Crusaders scored the final points of the half for a 34-33 advantage.

The Panthers' pressure in the second half proved too much for Valpo, though, as the Crusaders shot just 31.8 percent in the second 20 minutes while committing 14 turnovers.

"This is definitely the best Wisconsin-Milwaukee team we have seen since we were in the same conference as them in the mid-1990s," Valparaiso head coach Scott Drew said. "They've been building this team for this to be their year and certainly if they keep playing like this you could see them in the NCAA Tournament at the of the year."

The Panthers return to action Saturday night, playing a 7:30 p.m. contest at Mississippi Valley State. UWM then comes back home next Tuesday to face UW-Parkside.