Feb. 12, 2004

Box Score

MILWAUKEE - Dylan Page scored 26 points and Ed McCants added 21 as the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee claimed a 77-71 win over Loyola Thursday night at the U.S. Cellular Arena.

With the win, UWM (17-6, 12-1 Horizon) moves one win away from clinching at least a share of its first Horizon League regular season championship. The Panthers are now two-and-one-half games ahead of idle UW-Green Bay and three games ahead of Wright State with just three games to play.

Page, still playing with a heavily-wrapped left leg, knocked down 9-of-14 from the field, including four three-point baskets. He got plenty of help from McCants, who also had four assists and three steals in 32 minutes.

Paul McMillan led the Ramblers (7-16, 3-10) with 18 points and was one of five Ramblers in double figures.

"He just makes open shots," UWM head coach Bruce Pearl said of Page, whom Loyola coach Larry Farmer and McMillan each called the player of the year in the Horizon League. "He has a very good ability to find space and he doesn't need any time to get his shot off. When he gets the boot off, he'll be able to do more things athletically again."

The game was far from easy for the Panthers, who trailed 49-45 following two McMillan free throws with 13:17 remaining. But the Panthers scored the next six points of the game to regain the lead. Then, following a Terrance Whiters three, UWM went on a 17-5 run over the next eight minutes to take control of the contest.

"I think we wore them down," Pearl said. "We got a few stops and then made some big shots."

"Certainly it was a hard-fought game," Farmer said. "Milwaukee did a good job of stemming the runs we would make. It seemed like every time we would make a run Page or McCants would make a big shot."

The Panthers shot 47.5 percent for the game while limiting the Ramblers to 43.1 percent shooting. But UWM was outrebounded 40-33, including 16-10 on the offensive glass.

"They played volleyball at the basket a few times. They would throw it up at the basket and then throw it up again and again," Pearl said. "It's a problem we have to get corrected."

UWM returns to action Saturday afternoon, traveling to Youngstown State for a 1 p.m. contest.