Nov. 22, 2003

Box Score

MILWAUKEE - Joah Tucker scored 22 points and Ed McCants added 20 as the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee opened the 2003-04 season with a 95-83 win over Montana Saturday night at the U.S. Cellular Arena.

The game, UWM's first regular-season contest at the U.S. Cellular Arena since 1998, was every bit the high-scoring affair both teams desired. But UWM's 64 percent shooting in the second half and 22-of-29 shooting from the foul line proved to be the difference.

Dylan Page added a double-double of 18 points and 11 rebounds while Chris Hill tossed in 12 as UWM (1-0) won for the 16th-straight time at home.

Kevin Criswell scored 21 points to lead Montana (0-1), while Milwaukee native Kamaar Davis scored 18 in his return home.

The Panthers led by as many as 17 points in the second half before the Grizzlies rallied to within seven at 79-72 with 5:54 remaining. But UWM responded with a 9-2 run to rebuild an 88-74 advantage and then hung on from there.

"I'm really happy for all of the guys, but I'm really happy for Joah. I'm glad he decided to come home," UWM head coach Bruce Pearl said of the former Glendale Nicolet star who transferred to UWM after a season at Bradley and played for the first time in a regular season game as a Panther. "I think the time these guys spent together over the summer really is making a difference. We have a long way to go but it was a good start."

In fact, the Panthers wasted little time in getting the season off to a good start, bolting out to a 10-0 lead in the first 3:21 behind six points from McCants, a layup by Tucker and a dunk by Page. The Grizzlies then scored 13 of the next 15 points for a 13-12 lead, their only edge of the night. UWM responded by rebuilding the lead to 27-18 and then extended the lead to 35-22 following three layups and a dunk. Montana pushed the lead back under double figures twice, but UWM scored the final four points of the half to carry a 50-36 lead into the locker room.

UWM returns to action Tuesday night, welcoming Concordia-St. Paul to the Klotsche Center for a 7 p.m. contest.