Jan. 18, 2006

Final Stats |  Quotes |  Notes

DETROIT, Mich. - The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee overcame a 10-point deficit in the final four minutes of the game to claim a 72-71 win over Detroit Wednesday night at Calihan Hall.

Chris Hill's jumper in traffic with 11.5 seconds left was the game-winner for Milwaukee, which won for the ninth time in its last 10 outings.

Boo Davis scored 21 points and Derrick Ford added a career-high 14 off the bench for the Panthers.

Chuck Bailey scored 18 and Jon Goode 17 for the Titans, who shot just 40.7 percent in the second half after shooting 56 percent in the first half. Brandon Cotton, who had missed Detroit's last three games with an injury, added 13 points.

The Panthers (13-4, 6-1 Horizon) actually were down 11 with 4:47 left and still trailed 69-59 with four minutes remaining. But, a three-point by Allan Hanson 30 seconds later started the comeback and UWM had the lead down to 69-66 after two free throws by Ford.

From there, four-straight points by Davis tied the game at 70 with 1:11 left before a single free throw by Muhammad Abdur-Rahim with 46 seconds remaining gave Detroit a 71-70 edge. Then, after the Panthers nearly turned the ball over in front of their bench with 25 seconds remaining, Hill calmly spun toward the lane and rolled in his shot with the shot clock running down.

Detroit then turned the ball over on its next possession and, after Hill intentionally missed the second of two free throws, the Titans final shot from 75 feet was well off.

"It wasn't anything I said. It was these kids," Milwaukee coach Rob Jeter said. "We fought mentally and physically, and the guys just wanted it. They really stepped up. It was nothing I said, the guys just really stepped up."

Detroit looked like they might take control of the game early in the second half. The Titans scored six of the first eight points of the half to build a 45-36 lead with 14:49 remaining. UWM pushed back, though, pulling within 49-46 on a turnaround in the lane by Nick Hansen.

Detroit rebuilt the lead to eight at 54-46 and still led 59-51 with 7:34 left. The Titans then edged the lead into double figures for the first time at 67-56, converting on an unconventional four-point play with 4:47 left. That set the stage for Milwaukee's improbable comeback

Detroit claimed the better of the play in the first half by shooting 56 percent from the field. The Titans pulled ahead 21-20 on a three by Cotton and, after UWM regained a 24-21 lead, UDM surged to a 32-26 advantage following four-straight free throws by Chris Hayes. Milwaukee pulled to within 36-34 with just 40 seconds remaining on a follow-up basket by Kevin Massiah, but a three-pointer by Cotton 20 seconds later gave Detroit a 39-34 lead at the half.

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