Feb. 21, 2002

Box Score

MILWAUKEE - Cleveland State shot 71 percent in the second half and Pape Badiane hit two clinching free throws with 4.4 seconds remaining to send Cleveland State to a 69-67 upset victory over UWM Thursday night, dropping the Panthers a half-game behind Butler in the Horizon League standings.

Theo Dixon scored 22 points for the Vikings, who shot 61 percent for the game. Clay Tucker and Adrian Tigert scored 17 points apiece for the Panthers (15-11, 10-4 Horizon), who shot just 37 percent from the field.

Jamaal Harris gave Cleveland State (12-14, 6-9) the lead for good at 67-64 on a three-point shot with 1:39 remaining and the Panthers came up empty in three possessions in the final 99 seconds. Badiane's free throws made it 69-64 and Ronnie Jones converted a three-point shot with a second remaining to provide for the final score.

"Cleveland State was picked third in the league. We know how athletic they are. They overwhelmed us close to the basket," UWM head coach Bruce Pearl said. "They didn't block many shots, but they certainly turned a bunch of them away."

Cleveland State used a 25-6 run late in the first half and early in the second half to turn a nine-point deficit into a 10-point advantage. The Panthers fought back to take a 51-50 lead on a Dan Weisse three with 9:20 remaining. There were four ties and a lead change in the next eight minutes before the Harris three gave the Vikings the lead for good.

The Panthers, who had moved a half-game ahead of Butler in the Horizon League standings following the Bulldogs loss to Loyola Wednesday night, still remain in control of their chances for a first league championship despite the loss. UWM would win at least a share of the regular-season league crown with wins at Detroit and UW-Green Bay over the next four days.

"We've been playing for a championship all season," Pearl said. "We're two games away from the season being over and we're still playing for a championship."

Jones added 11 for the Panthers, who were outrebounded 36-30. Andre Williams scored 15 and Harris added 13 for the Vikings.

UWM appeared poised to take control of the game with a 14-1 run in the first half. The Panthers turned a 14-10 deficit into a 24-15 lead thanks to a pair of three-point shots by Tucker and four points by Tigert. But, the Vikings responded, scoring 13 of the final 18 points of the half to pull within 29-28 at halftime.

The Panthers were also saddled by foul trouble in the first half. Tucker picked up two quick fouls and played just 10 minutes in the first half, while three other Panthers picked up two fouls by the break and UWM called for 10 fouls in the first half to just four on the Vikings.

The Panthers continue their three-game road trip to close out the regular season with a contest at Detroit Saturday afternoon. The game tips off at 3:05 p.m.