Dec. 10, 2003

Box Score

VALPARAISO, Ind. - The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee overcame an eight-point deficit in the final four minutes of the game to claim an 86-82 win over Valparaiso Wednesday night at the Athletics-Recreation Center.

The Panthers (4-2) trailed, 76-68, with 4:16 remaining following a basket by Jimmie Miles. But UWM responded with nine points in the next 1:44 to regain the lead and then led by as many as six points in the closing minute.

Dylan Page scored 20 points while Ed McCants added 19 and Joah Tucker 14 for the Panthers, who claimed 20 offensive rebounds and forced 19 Valpo turnovers.

Tucker did his damage despite playing just 12 minutes due to foul trouble. Upon returning with about five minutes remaining in the game, Tucker knocked down a three and scored eight points down the stretch to secure the win.

Joaquim Gomes scored 19 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for the Crusaders (2-4), who also got 15 points from Ron Howard and 14 points and 10 rebounds from Dan Oppland.

In all, it was 13-0 run for UWM that started with a Page three-point play. McCants followed with a layup after a steal off the inbounds to make it 76-73 and then Tucker followed his own miss to pull UWM within 76-75 with 2:50 remaining. The go-ahead hoop came courtesy of Page on a goaltend by Valpo and then Chris Hill hit a free throw, Tucker scored inside and Hill added a free throw for an 81-76 edge with 57.3 remaining.

UWM led by six with 13:48 left in the second half but saw Valpo respond with eight-straight points for a 58-56 edge. The Crusaders then built a seven-point lead at 69-62 on a Seth Colclasure three with 7:59 left and led by nine at 74-65 on a Dan Oppland layin with 4:53 left. But the Panthers recovered from there to claim the win.

The first half was even after Valpo stormed out to a 9-3 lead in the first three minutes. The Panthers recovered to take a 15-14 lead on a three-point play by Mark Pancratz with 14:31 remaining and expanded the lead to 19-15 on a layin by McCants. Valpo recovered to take a 23-22 lead and the game was then tied on three occasions late in the half. The Crusaders pulled out to a 41-38 edge, but a Chris Hill jumper brought UWM to within 41-40 at the break.

The Panthers battled foul trouble in the first half as UWM was whistled for 14 fouls, with four players picking up two fouls and Joah Tucker being whistled for three.

UWM returns to action Saturday morning, facing 19th-ranked Wisconsin in an 11 o'clock contest. The game is sold out but will be televised by Fox Sports North.