Feb. 14, 2002

Box Score

MILWAUKEE - Five players scored in double figures and UWM shot a season-high 59 percent from the field en route to a convincing 94-68 win over Wright State.

The Panthers (15-10, 10-3 Horizon) outscored the Raiders 23-6 over the first eight minutes of the second half to claim the impressive victory, which kept UWM is a first-place tie with Butler in the Horizon League. The Bulldogs beat UW-Green Bay, 77-74, Thursday night.

Clay Tucker scored 21 points and became UWM's all-time career three-point leader. Jason Frederick added 20 - 18 in the first half, while Dan Weisse added 12 points off the bench for the second-straight game. Adrian Tigert and Ronnie Jones tossed in 10 points apiece. Vernard Hollins led Wright State (14-10, 6-7) with 18 points, while Jesse Deister added 15.

"This was probably our best second half of basketball both offensively and defensively," Tucker said. "Tonight it was a combination of offense and defense."

The Panthers forced 17 Raider turnovers and, after Wright State shot 54 percent in the first half, limited the Raiders to just 38 percent shooting in the second half. 11 of the turnovers came in the second half, when Wright State trailed by as many as 31 points.

"That was a great way to close out the homestand," UWM head coach Bruce Pearl said. "The tempo was up and our kids thrived on that pace. We beat a good basketball team and I think Wright State will continue to be a factor this season in the league."

UWM pulled away only slighty in the first half, breaking a 25-all tie with a 10-2 run to build an eight-point advantage with 5:55 remaining. The Raiders pulled back to within five and UWM carried a seven-point lead into the locker room before exploding to open the second half. The Panthers made nine of their first 15 shots to open the second stanza.

"My hat goes off to UWM," Wright State head coach Ed Schilling said. "They're hitting on all cylinders right now. They just have so many weapons."

UWM collected 20-plus assists for the third-straight game and had five players in double figures for the second-straight time.

The Panthers are off this weekend before closing the season on a three-game road trip. UWM plays at Cleveland State next Thursday and Detroit next Saturday before visiting UW-Green Bay Feb. 25.