Feb. 1, 2003

Box Score

CHICAGO - Clay Tucker scored a career-high 36 points and Jason Frederick and Ronnie Jones each hit key three-point shots in the closing moments as the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee claimed a 92-91 win over Loyola Saturday afternoon at the Gentile Center.

The Panthers (16-5, 7-2 Horizon) led by 16 points with 10:05 remaining but nearly saw the lead slip away. Loyola closed to within four with 4:22 remaining but Jones responded with a three to push the lead back to seven. Frederick then hit a three with 1:59 remaining to push the lead to 85-75 before the combination of missed free throws and quick Loyola hoops nearly brought the Ramblers back.

Loyola (9-13, 4-5) pulled within 92-91 on a Kevin Clancy three with 3.0 seconds remaining and then, after a deep UWM pass off the inbounds, missed a 75-footer at the buzzer that would have won the game.

The Panthers made just one of their final six free throws and converted on just 12-of-27 for the game.

Dylan Page scored 22 points and Frederick added 21 for the Panthers, who shot 57 percent from the field.

David Bailey scored 33 points for the Ramblers while Demetrius Williams scored 22 points and collected 21 rebounds.

The game, in front of a regional television audience, was played in front of 3,861 fans, a loud contingent of which made their way from Milwaukee for the contest.

"It was great for Chicago and Loyola to have this kind of atmosphere," UWM head coach Bruce Pearl said. "When fans from both teams are as spirited as these fans were - it's just a great thing to be a part of.

"I don't remember what movie it came from but I know it fits this situation - 'he's back'," Pearl added. "Clay Tucker is back."

Tucker's 36 points equal the most by a Panther since Michael Hughes scored 37 points against Youngstown State in 1994.

"The career-high doesn't mean much to me but doing it while winning does," Tucker said. "My teammates kept finding me and I was being aggressive in taking it to the basket."

The Panthers led by as many as 10 points in the first half but found themselves in a 38-all halfime tie after being outscored from the foul line, 17-0.

UWM again ran out to a lead in the second half, grabbing a 57-46 lead on a Tucker three with 13:23 left in the game. The lead hit 64-49 on a Page follow-up with 11:59 remaining and the lead hit 16 on the Frederick layin before the Ramblers rallied.

The Panthers were outscored 32-12 from the line in the game. UWM did limit Loyola to 44 percent shooting from the field and outscored the Ramblers 80-59 from the field.

UWM returns to action Thursday night, opening a four-game homestand at 7 p.m. against Detroit.