Dec 23, 2003

Box Score

MILWAUKEE - Dylan Page scored 25 points and Ed McCants added 21 Tuesday night as the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee defeated Illinois-Chicago 78-62 Tuesday at the U.S. Cellular Arena in the Horizon League opener for both teams.

The Panthers broke a 46-all tie early in the second half with a 17-4 run and then led by as many as 20 points down the stretch.

Chris Hill added 10 points for the Panthers (5-3, 1-0 Horizon), who opened the league season with a win for the third-straight year.

Cedrick Banks scored 19 points to lead the Flames (9-3, 0-1 Horizon), who were the pre-season favorites in the Horizon League.

"I'm very proud of my team," UWM head coach Bruce Pearl said. "I'm very pleased with the progress we made in the last 10 days. I thought the players did a wonderful job. Ed McCants was great in the first half, Dylan stepped up in the second half and I thought Kalombo Kadima gave us a terrific boost off the bench. We're very pleased with beating the league favorites and holding serve at home."

McCants capped an 11-0 run with a 3-pointer with 8:27 remaining in the first half to put the Panthers ahead 26-18.

The Panthers led 44-37 at the half, but the Flames opened the second half with a 9-2 run, capped by a Martell Bailey basket that tied the score at 46.

Hill then hit a 3-pointer with 16:42 left to put the Panthers back on top again for good.

When the Flames pulled within a point at 51-50 on a basket by Justin Bowen with 14:21 left, the Panthers ran off 12 straight points - seven from Page - to lead 63-50 and put the game away.

"It was an embarassing trip," UIC head coach Jimmy Collins said. "They were tougher. They were more athletic than we were. They were awful doggone quick. They just beat us every which way but loose."

UWM returns to action Dec. 29 at the Cable Car Classic against the hosts from Santa Clara.