Nov. 23, 2004

Box Score |  Quotes |  Notes

MILWAUKEE - Derrick Ford scored 19 points and Jason McCoy added 14 off the bench as the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee claimed an 87-50 win over UW-Parkside Tuesday night at the U.S. Cellular Arena.

The Panthers limited the Rangers (0-3) to just 32.8 percent shooting from the field and forced 26 turnovers.

Just as it did on Saturday night, UWM seized control of the game in the opening minutes, building a 25-4 lead in the first nine minutes. Parkside recovered to pull within 15 points at the 5:55 mark, but the Panthers ended the half on a 15-3 run, carrying a 47-21 lead into the locker room. The Panthers then led by as many as 41 points in the second half.

Now, after two easy wins to open the regular season, the Panthers' quickly turned their attention toward NCAA qualifier Air Force, which visits the U.S. Cellular Arena Sunday afternoon.

"These first two games, and the first exhibition games, are really about preparing us for what's ahead," UWM head coach Bruce Pearl said. "We worked on a few different attacks that we wouldn't normally do against Parkside, but we did with a mind toward Air Force.

"If we play Air Force in the first game, would we be ready? I don't know, but we're certainly more ready than we were two or three weeks ago."

UWM shot 60.7 percent in the first half, with Ed McCants scoring 10 points and McCoy adding nine off the bench. The Panther defense, meanwhile, held the Rangers to just 29 percent shooting in the first 20 minutes.

"I thought we did a great job in the first half by limiting them to 21 points and 29 percent shooting," Pearl said. "But they stayed with it and we were not able to maintain the kind of intensity defensively that I wanted to."

Ford led the Panthers on the backboards with nine rebounds, while James Wright added four points and eight rebounds.

For the second-straight game, UWM's defense was, at times, dominant. Along with holding Parkside under 33 percent shooting, the Panthers had 12 steals and six blocked shots - all without pressing in the second half.

The Panthers return to action Sunday afternoon, hosting NCAA qualifier Air Force at the U.S. Cellular Arena. The game tips off at 4 p.m.