Dec. 15, 2004

Box Score

MADISON, Wis. - Sharif Chambliss scored 21 points and the University of Wisconsin held the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee to its lowest point output under Bruce Pearl in a 66-37 win Wednesday night at the Kohl Center.

The Panthers (6-2) shot just 25.5 percent from the field and endured long dry spells throughout the contest.

Wisconsin (6-2) closed the game on a 25-6 run, breaking open what had been a reasonably close game for the first 30 minutes. Alando Tucker scored 11 points and Mike Wilkinson added 10 points and 12 rebounds to help the Badgers to their 33rd-straight home win.

Joah Tucker scored nine points to lead UWM.

UWM's defense held its own throughout the game, limiting the Badgers to just 29 percent shooting in the first half and 38 percent for the game. But the Panthers could never get rolling offensively.

"We're embarrassed. We were totally overmatched," UWM head coach Bruce Pearl said. "We're not built to beat Wisconsin with their size inside. I thought our kids played very good defense and played hard. Wisconsin shot 38 percent from the field and I think that's a sign of our kids' effort.

"The way they (Wisconsin) played, we couldn't win it. They were terrific. Give Wisconsin credit for really taking away what we did."

The two teams combined for just six points in the first 5 1/2 minutes of the game, and, after Wisconsin opened up a nine-point lead with 7:50 left, UWM quickly cut the lead back to six. The Badger lead was still six with under five minutes remaining but Wisconsin scored seven of the final nine points of the half to carry a 25-14 lead into the locker room.

Wisconsin gained some control of the game early in the second half, scoring the first seven points for a 32-14 edge. UWM did recover, though, pulling within nine at the 14:17 mark and again within 10 at the midway point of the half. But the Badgers had the final push, limiting UWM to just two free throws in the final seven minutes of the game.

UWM returns to action next Wednesday, facing second-ranked Kansas at Kemper Arena.