Feb. 14, 2004

Box Score

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - Doug Underwood scored 26 points to boost Youngstown State to an 85-84 upset win over the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Saturday afternoon at the Beeghly Center.

Kalombo Kadima nearly tied the game with 0.4 seconds remaining by making a jump shot from the top of the key. But his foot was clearly on the three-point line, leaving the Panthers a point shy of forcing overtime.

UWM (17-7, 12-2 Horizon) trailed 83-78 with 1:53 remaining before rallying. Chris Hill, who scored a career-high 16 points, made four-straight free throws to pull the Panthers within 83-82 with 1:24 left.

Following a YSU turnover, Hill missed a driving layup with 31 seconds remaining and Ed McCants saw a three-point basket hit every corner of the rim before falling out six seconds later. UWM fouled Khari McQueen, who missed both of his free throws with 21 seconds remaining. Hill was then called for a charge with seven seconds remaining on the Panthers' next possession.

UWM's final opportunity then came after Adam Baumann made two free throws with 6.2 seconds left. But with Kadima rushing up the floor to attempt the game-tying shot, his lead foot clipped the three-point line before he rose up to knock down the jumper.

Dylan Page, still playing with a heavily-bandaged left leg, led the Panthers with 17 points but made just 6-of-19 from the field. Joah Tucker added 13 despite playing just 21 minutes because of foul trouble while Ed McCants added 12.

TeJay Anderson added 19, all in the second half, while Baumann had 17 points and 13 rebounds for the Penguins (8-15, 4-9), who had lost at home to both UW-Green Bay and Butler in overtime.

Despite the loss, the Panthers remain one win away from clinching at least a share of their first-ever Horizon League regular season championship.

"We did a lot of good things. They just did a few more than we did," UWM head coach Bruce Pearl said. "Youngstown State is a good team. They've knocked on the door. I just don't think they've gotten enough credit.

"We had our chances. We missed a lot of good shots and they made a lot of tough shots."

The Panthers attempted to pull away midway through the second half, building a 66-60 lead on a Page basket with 9:50 remaining. But YSU rallied to tie the score at 72 before trading baskets with the Panthers to make it 76-all with 4:52 remaining. The Penguins then scored on their next possession and UWM would never have the lead again.

The two teams battled through an entertaining and even first half. The scored was tied 10 times and the lead changed hands 15 times in the first 20 minutes. The Panthers got a huge boost from their bench, with Chris Hill, Rob Sanders and Nate Mielke scoring six points apiece.

UWM trailed 36-33 following a Doug Underwood three with 4:44 remaining. But the Panthers scored 11 of the next 14 points to grab a 44-40 lead with 52 seconds remaining. After YSU pulled within 44-43, a driving layup from Hill gave UWM its three-point lead at the break.

UWM shot 50 percent in the first 20 minutes but had its halftime edge despite seeing Dylan Page make just 3-of-10 shots from the field. YSU got 18 points in the first 20 minutes from Underwood, who made four three-point shots.

UWM returns to action Wednesday night, traveling to Indianapolis for a battle with Butler. The game tips off at 6 p.m. CST.