Dec. 30, 2005

Box Score |  Notes

MISSOULA, Mont. - Boo Davis' three-point basket with 1:48 remaining gave the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee the lead for good as the Panthers snapped Montana's 10-game winning streak in a 78-74 victory Friday night at soldout Dahlberg Arena.

The game, billed locally as the biggest game in Missoula in some 10 years, drew a crowd of 7,213 that was treated to a thrilling contest that included 10 ties and 10 lead changes, almost all of them in the second half.

Davis finished with 20 points to lead Milwaukee (8-3), which has won seven of its last eight games. The senior guard scored 18 of his points in the second half after playing just five minutes in the first half because of foul trouble.

But Davis was far from the only standout for the Panthers. Joah Tucker scored 16 points, Adrian Tigert added 15 and Tyrone Young pitched-in with a career-high 10 points off the bench.

Andrew Strait scored 23 points and Kevin Criswell added 18 for Montana (10-2), which hadn't lost since its season opener.

The Grizzlies looked like they might make a big surge late in the second half, pulling ahead 60-57 with 7:32 remaining. The run started with four-straight points by Kyle Sharp and the Grizzlies then inched the lead to 67-63 with 4:58 remaining. But, the Panthers scored six-straight, highlighted by a Tucker three-point play, to go up 69-67 with 3:48 left.

A Criswell three 53 seconds later gave Montana the lead back at 72-69, but Davis came down to the other end and silenced the crowd with a three of his own, tying the contest at 72-apiece with 2:40 left.

Montana's final points came on two Virgil Matthews free throws with 2:12 left, and set the stage for the key basket from Davis. His three with 1:48 left made it 75-74 Milwaukee and then, as the Panthers got key defensive stops in the closing minutes, a free throw by Hill and two free throws by Davis sealed the victory.

"I thought our guys kept their poise down the stretch. We got some key baskets going to the rim," Milwaukee head coach Rob Jeter said. "Boo made some big baskets from long range but when they took the lead, we didn't flinch. I'm proud of the guys. The guys I have in that locker room, because they've been through the battles, that helps a lot."

Milwaukee led nearly the entire first half. A fast start saw the Panthers build a seven-point lead. Four-straight points from Young, including a dunk on an alley-oop pass Avery Smith, highlighted the early run that saw Milwaukee grab a 17-10 lead.

Montana kept surging back at the Panthers, pulling within 25-24 on an inside hoop by Strait with 7:57 remaining. But Milwaukee countered, rebuilding a 33-26 advantage following another basket by Young with just over five minutes left.

The Grizzlies had the next run, though, scoring eight-straight to finally take the lead. A free throw by Martin with 2:08 remaining made it 34-33, and brought the boisterous crowd back on its feet. But, a three-pointer by Allan Hanson, a free throw by Derrick Ford and a baseline jumper by Young just before the halftime buzzer gave the Panthers a 39-37 lead at the break.

Both teams were red-hot from the field during an entertaining first 20 minutes. In fact, while the Panthers were shooting 56.3 percent from the field, the Grizzlies outdid them by shooting 59.1 percent from the floor. But, the Panthers seemed to have the better looks from the field, outscoring Montana, 26-12, in the paint.

Each team cooled off in the second half, but the Panthers still shot 50 percent from the field for the game. They also forced 16 turnovers and outrebounded the Grizzlies 36-28.

UWM returns to action Monday night, hosting Cleveland State at the U.S. Cellular Arena. The game tips off at 7 p.m. CST.