Feb. 10, 2003

Box Score

MILWAUKEE - Jason Frederick scored 15 points to lead a balanced attack and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee built a large halftime edge for the third-straight outing in cruising to a 78-54 win over UW-Green Bay Monday night at the Klotsche Center.

The win is the sixth in a row for the Panthers (19-5, 10-2 Horizon League), who moved to 10-0 at home this season. UWM remains percentage points behind Butler (8-1) for first place in the Horizon League entering a crucial showdown with third place Illinois-Chicago (9-3) Thursday night.

Clay Tucker added 14 points and nine assists, Dylan Page had 11 points while playing just 17 minutes and Ronnie Jones added 10 as UWM used 12 players in all and saw 11 of them score.

Mike King scored 12 points and Matt Rohde 11 for the Phoenix (8-16, 3-9), who lost for the fifth-straight year in Milwaukee. UWGB shot just 33 percent from the field and turned the ball over 22 times.

"I think holding them to 33 percent was a terrific effort," UWM head coach Bruce Pearl said. "We really rallied to the ball and our pressure was very effective tonight. I think we did a good job of pursuing. They finished some things at Green Bay against the press that they didn't finish tonight."

UWM didn't waste much time in showing it was out to avenge a loss at Green Bay earlier in the season. The Panthers built a 21-11 lead on a Dan Weisse three with 8:37 remaining in the first half and extended the lead to 33-18 on a three by Tucker with 3:53 remaining. The lead hit 40-20 on a three by Frederick and a late bucket by Tucker gave UWM a 46-23 halftime edge. UWGB never got any closer than 19 points in the second half.

"We're coming out with a lot of energy," Frederick said of the great first-half starts the Panthers have been experiencing. "We're playing great defense and really coming out focused."

The Panthers converted on a season-high 14 three-point field goals and had 22 assists on 25 field goals.

"Green Bay's defense was real effective up there," Pearl said. "They're physical and packed it in. I have so many guys that can shoot the ball and we really moved it around tonight to get some good looks."

UWM, in the midst of a stretch of five games in 10 days, also got great contributions from its bench. In 80 minutes of action, the bench players contributed 20 points, 10 rebounds, seven assists and five steals, all without commiting a turnover.

"Our bench played really well tonight," Pearl said. "It's a good sign for this team to be able to rally."

After avenging one of their two league losses this season, the Panthers' attention turns to Thursday night when UIC visits the Klotsche Center. The Flames beat UWM, 102-92, in the first matchup, and are on the heels of the Panthers for second place in the Horizon League.

"It's a big game for us because it's the other team in the conference that beat us," Jones said. "We're going to come in very focused and ready. Every game is like the championship for us."

Thursday's game includes Senior Night festivities starting at approximately 6:45. The tipoff is at 7 p.m.