Dec 13, 2003

Box Score

MADISON, Wis. - Dylan Page scored 16 points while Joah Tucker added 13 and Chris Hill 12, but the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee could not overcome an effective Wisconsin attack in falling, 89-71, to the Badgers Saturday at the Kohl Center.

Mike Wilkinson scored 18 points and Devin Harris added 13 points as five Badgers reached double figures.

23rd-ranked Wisconsin led, 58-38, early in the second half but the Panthers (4-3) rallied, using an 11-0 run to pull within 58-49 with 11:12 remaining in the game

But Wisconsin (6-1) pulled away, using a 10-2 run that included 3-pointers by Wilkinson and Clayton Hanson to push its lead to 72-53 with 8:13 left.

"This is our third game against Wisconsin and this might be the best team I've had, and it might be the best team Wisconsin's had," UWM head coach Bruce Pearl said. "We felt like we could come in here today and win, we really did. They were better. They did a terrific job against our pressure and were able to turn the tempo up and finish. Offensively, they really executed well and got whatever they wanted. Our biggest problem with this basketball team is on the defensive end. We said that going in and certainly that continues to be the case."

The Panthers played even with Wisconsin for the first 14 minutes, but Wisconsin's Ray Nixon hit a three-pointer to start a 10-0 run that gave Wisconsin a 34-23 lead with 4:20 left in the half and UW carried a 43-32 lead into the locker room.