Nov. 25, 2003
Box Score
MILWAUKEE -
The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee scored the first 11 points of the game and never was threatened in cruising to a 90-62 win over Concordia-St. Paul Tuesday night at the Klotsche Center.
The opening run was capped by a reverse slam dunk by Ed McCants off an alley-oop pass from Joah Tucker and was one of 16 layups or dunks the Panthers collected in the first 20 minutes. UWM (2-0) then led by as many as 36 points early in the second half before emptying its bench and giving all 15 players dressed for the game court time.
McCants led the way with 23 points while Tucker added 15 and Dylan Page 14 for UWM, which shot 65.7 percent in the first half and 54 percent for the game.
Brian Jamros led all scorers with 24 points for the Golden Bears (1-1), an NCAA Division II school.
"I thought the team played well," UWM head coach Bruce Pearl said. "We played against a lot of zone tonight, which we had prepared for against Montana. We were obviously superior to Concordia but they kept attacking and played us even in the second half. But I think you can put stock in the first 30 minutes."
UWM put the game away with a run over the final 5:17 of the first half, turning a 33-21 advantage into a 54-28 halftime lead. The Panthers actually led by as many as 29 in the first 20 minutes after a 19-2 run made it 52-23 with 1:13 left.
The lead hit its high point at the 12:50 mark of the second half when a three-point play by Tucker made it 72-36. The points capped a 12-2 run that included a pair of three-point shots by McCants.
Pearl began emptying his bench midway through the second half as walk-on Jared Hokenson played seven minutes. Freshmen Joe Czechowicz and Nick Hansen joined sophomore Adam Finley and junior James Wright on the floor over the final five minutes, with Hansen collecting his first four collegiate points.
"Coach Pearl does such a good job with his system and that's the system we're trying to implement," Concordia head coach Ryan Freeberg said. "This is a great opportunity for our guys to play a level higher. It's fun for them and it's fun for me, even if you wouldn't know it by looking at the scoreboard."
UWM returns to action Saturday afternoon, wrapping up a three-game homestand with a 4 p.m. contest at the U.S. Cellular Arena against Southern Illinois. The game is a rematch of last year's ESPN Bracket Buster contest won by the Salukies at the buzzer.