Dec. 21, 2002

Box Score

MILWAUKEE - Dylan Page scored a career-high 32 points, 27 of them coming in the second half, and Nate Mielke added a career-high 22 as the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee scored 64 second-half points to claim a 100-80 win over Loyola Saturday afternoon at the Klotsche Center in the Horizon League opener for both teams.

The Panthers (9-2, 1-0 Horizon), the pre-season league favorites, have now won eight-straight games, equaling the second-longest winning streak in the school's Division I history.

David Bailey scored 25 points and Terrance Whiters added 17 for Loyola (4-5, 0-1), which lost for the third-straight time.

The 64 points UWM scored in the second half are the most it has ever scored in one half of a Division I game. The second half burst allowed the Panthers to overcome the loss of a 20-point first-half lead. Loyola tied the game at halftime before the Panthers outscored the Ramblers, 64-44, in the second 20 minutes to win their league opener for the second-straight season.

"I said this was going to be Dylan's coming out and it certainly has been," UWM head coach Bruce Pearl said. "And I'm so proud of Nate Mielke. Nate battled, but he battled effectively. The way Nate, Dylan and Justin Lettenberger responded to the challenge I gave them is very, very encouraging."

Lettenberger and Page each had nine rebounds as the Panthers held a 49-38 edge on the glass. UWM also forced 22 turnovers while only committing 12. The Panthers did it all while also welcoming back senior Clay Tucker in a reserve role. After sitting out the last two games with back spasms, Tucker played 24 minutes off the bench, contributing nine points and six rebounds. Tucker's return was a key for the Panthers, though, who played without forwards Derek Huff (foot) and Rob Sanders (shoulder).

"I think Clay counted the bodies and knew he needed to get in there," Pearl said. "Clay came in and didn't force the issue. He looked good early and it gave our guys confidence."

The Panthers led 51-45 with 14:19 remaining but regained control of the contest with a 14-0 run over the next two minutes. The run came thanks to UWM's pressure defense, which forced four turnovers during the run, and Page, who scored eight points in the run. Two Page free throws made it 62-45 before a three-pointer by Jason Frederick, who scored 18 points in the game, made it 65-45 with 12:30 to play.

Loyola trimmed the lead to 87-78 on a Bailey three with 3:14 remaining, but the Panthers closed the game on a 13-2 run that sent the crowd of 2,831 home happy.

The first half involved huge runs by both teams, as UWM built their 20-point advantage before the Ramblers rallied to tie the game at the half. UWM led 13-9 at the first media timeout then quickly expanded the lead to 21-9 on a Ronnie Jones three with 13:43 remaining, forcing a Loyola timeout.

The Ramblers could not stem the tide, though, as a Tucker three made it 29-9 with 10:41 remaining and a Jones runner in the lane kept the advantage to 33-13 with 7:39 remaining.

Loyola turned the game around from there, using an 18-0 run to pull back within 33-28. Two Page free throws broke the run, but the Ramblers responded with a three by Whiters to pull within 35-31 before tying the game at 36 on a Vasilis Tsimpliaridis.

UWM returns to action next Saturday, traveling to Athens, Ga., to face the University of Georgia. Tipoff is scheduled for 3:05 p.m. CST. The Panthers next league game is Jan. 2 at Detroit.