Feb. 25, 2002

Box Score

GREEN BAY, Wis. - Clay Tucker scored 28 points and UWM used a 13-0 run late in the second half to take control of a tight contest en route to a 76-66 win over UW-Green Bay Monday night in the final game at the Brown County Arena

The Panthers (16-12, 11-5 Horizon) claimed a second-place tie with Detroit thanks to the victory, the first by a UWM team in Green Bay since the 1993-94 season. UWM also claimed its first season-sweep of its in-state rival since the 1992-93 season and recorded its best league finish and record in school history. The 16 wins are also the most by a UWM team since the 1992-93 season.

"This was an important game for us tonight because 11 wins is a standard we have set for future teams at Milwaukee to beat," UWM head coach Bruce Pearl said. "A second-place finish was certainly higher than what we had been expected to do."

The Panthers led most of the game but a 7-0 run by the Phoenix (7-20, 4-12) gave UWGB a 50-48 lead with 12:55 to play. The Phoenix still led 54-52 before UWM silenced the partisan crowd of 4,874, scoring seven straight points for a 59-54 edge before adding a 13-0 over a five-minute stretch to build a 72-57 lead with 2:43 to play.

"The runs, the defense, the tempo. They did a good job of attacking it, but it was at our pace," Pearl said.

The win was dampered by an injury to Adrian Tigert in the first half. The freshman, who had recorded a career-high in each of the last two contests, suffered a subluxation of his right patella and did not return. Tigert is listed as doubtful for the upcoming league tournament.

Dylan Page, who played 28 minutes in the absence of Tigert, scored 15 points and added seven rebounds. UWM collected a total of 23 points off the bench.

"The way we won tonight is the way we've been winning all year," Pearl said. "Our role players really stepped up."

DeVante Blanks scored 19 points to lead the Phoenix, who lost in their final-ever appearance at the Brown County Arena. UWGB will play in the Resch Center beginning next season.

"I looked at it as an honor," Pearl said of UWM being the final opponent in the arena. "It was an honor to play in this gym with all of the tradition. And winning the final game here will be something our guys can cherish."

UWM will be the third seed in the upcoming league tournament and will face UIC in the quarterfinals Saturday night at 7:30 p.m.