Jan. 2, 2003

Box Score

DETROIT - Jason Frederick scored 23 points to lead four players in double figures as the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee claimed its first-ever win at Calihan Hall in Detroit, beating the host Titans, 73-72, Thursday night.

The Panthers (10-3, 2-0 Horizon), the pre-season Horizon League favorite, shot 55 percent from the field in starting the league season 2-0 for the second-straight year.

Detroit (5-5, 0-1) lost for just the third time at home in its last 71 home contests.

Clay Tucker added 17 points, Ronnie Jones 13 and Dylan Page 11 for the Panthers, who have won nine of their last 10 games. Elijah Warren scored 20 points and Willie Green added 18, all in the second half, to lead the Titans.

"You look at certain games on your schedule and you know if you can win them, they can separate you from the rest of the league," UWM head coach Bruce Pearl said. "This is a separator. Not many teams in the league are going to come in here and win."

A Jones three with 3:46 remaining in the game gave the Panthers the lead for good at 69-67 and UWM then hung on despite three turnovers down the stretch. A Green three with two seconds remaining brought Detroit within a point, but the Titans could not muster a final shot after Frederick missed a free throw with a second remaining.

The Panthers looked like they had the game in hand early in the second half, building a 55-43 lead on a Frederick layin with 15:11 to play. The lead was still 66-59 with 8:08 left following a Justin Lettenberger layin before Detroit rallied, scoring eight-straight points for a 67-66 lead - its only lead of the game.

The difference in the game, though, was a fast start by the Panthers and their ability to slow the tempo - something opposite their usual game plan. Last year the Titans ran the Panthers out of Calihan Hall, breaking their press consistently for a 94-61 win. Pearl said he adjusted the game plan this time and it resulted in UWM needing just 49 shots from the field to claim the win.

"We just didn't want to get into an up-and-down game with Detroit," Pearl said. "We tried to beat Detroit like they beat people. We were willing to make it a half-court game. We shot only 49 times, so we showed a great deal of patience."

UWM controlled much of the first half while weathering two Detroit runs. The Panthers jumped out to an early 18-9 advantage in the first six minutes. Detroit responded, pulling within 19-18 on a Jimmy Twyman layup while seeing Page head to the bench with his second foul.

But the Panthers replied again, this time scoring seven-straight points, highlighted by back-to-back threes by Tucker and Frederick, to grab a 26-18 lead. The Titans then used their second run, a 12-4 burst, to tie the game at 30 as a Bernie Fuhs three with 6:50 remaining knotted the score.

UWM used a final run to grab the lead at halftime. The Panthers scored 14 of the next 16 points, capped by a Tucker dunk off a steal with 1:44 to play, to grab a 44-32 lead. Detroit then scored the final five points of the half to pull within 44-37 at halftime.

Frederick scored 15 of his 23 points in the first half, when UWM shot 64 percent.

"The fast start was crucial," Pearl said. "We came in here last year and got down big at the half. There's no question Jason's shots were big. We just showed a lot of poise and didn't let Detroit get those huge runs."

Pearl was also pleased with the play of Tucker, who has suffered from back spasms during the early season and, in just his second game back last Saturday at Georgia, made just 1-of-13 shots.

"Clay Tucker is a big part of this story." Pearl said. "He just had not been able to play much, but for him to go 7-for-11, 3-for-4 from three, and let the game come to him was really crucial. It showed great character and great understanding."

The Panthers return to action Saturday night, playing at Cleveland State. The game tips off at 6 p.m. CST.