Feb. 4, 2002

Box Score

CHICAGO - UWM used a 20-6 run early in the second half to take control of their contest with Loyola Monday night en route to an 80-70 victory at the Gentile Center.

The win moved the Panthers (13-9, 8-2 Horizon League) a full game ahead of Butler atop the league standings. The Ramblers (12-10, 7-4) fell a game-and-a-half behind the Panthers with the loss.

UWM struggled through much of the first half, trailing by as many as eight points thanks to 19 points from David Bailey and sluggish play on both ends of the floor. But a determined Panther squad emerged from the locker room in the second half, scoring 24 of the first 33 points of the half and never leading by fewer than six points after that.

"Basketball doesn't build character, it reveals it," UWM head coach Bruce Pearl said. "I thought our character was revealed in the second half. To be able to jump on them right away in the second half and get right back in it, I thought that was a big key."

The lead grew to double-digits for the first time on a Dan Weisse three with 9:25 left.UWM then led by as many as 15 points with under four minutes remaining and the Panthers were never seriously threatened the rest of the way.

Clay Tucker scored 20 points to lead the Panthers, while Jason Frederick added 16 and Ronnie Jones pitched-in with 15. UWM hit six three-point shots in the second half and knocked down 11 for the game, with six different Panthers making three-point tries.

"We have to shoot the ball well and spread the floor," Pearl said. "Everybody kind of knocked a few shots down."

UWM's pressure defense also created 16 turnovers and the Panthers collected 11 steals.

"The pressure has been a very effective thing for us," Pearl said. "They handled it pretty well at our place and we made some adjustments."

The Panthers return to action Thursday night, traveling back to Chicago for a matchup with UIC. The game tips off at 7 p.m. and can be seen in Milwaukee on WMLW-TV 41.