Nov. 6, 2006

Box Score

MILWAUKEE - Ricky Franklin scored 14 points to lead four players in double figures as the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee claimed a 77-53 win over Edgewood College Monday night in an exhibition contest at the U.S. Cellular Arena.

After playing 14 different players in the first half, the Panthers trimmed their rotation early in the second half, scoring 24 of the first 26 points to turn the game into a rout.

Avery Smith added 13 points while Allan Hanson and Paige Paulsen contributed 11 points apiece to lead Milwaukee, which outrebounded Edgewood 54-34 and held the Eagles to just 31.4 percent shooting from the field.

Chris DeMarco led Edgewood with 24 points, though he scored 14 of his points from the free throw line as the Eagles made 20 free throws but just 16 field goals.

"In the first half, we continued to give people opportunities and test out combinations," UWM head coach Rob Jeter said. "In the second half, we started settling in on some people and some combinations that will work for us.

"It's not a work of art yet - it's not a masterpiece. It is a process. "

UWM scored 17-straight points early in the second half, sparked by seven points from Paulsen, and then pushed the lead to 55-34 following five-straight points from Ryan Thornton. UWM eventually led by as many as 26 points and never let Edgewood closer than 16 points the rest of the way.

The big second half came after the Panthers led 33-31 at the half. UWM jumped out to a 21-10 lead early in the half but the Eagles fought back by making 12-of-18 free throws and pushing the Panthers into foul trouble.

"The effort is certainly there but the execution was a little sloppy," Jeter said of his team's defense efforts. "The defensive end is definitely where I am looking at this team first."

The Panthers now turn their attention to the regular season, which begins Friday when UWM hosts the John Thompson Classic at the U.S. Cellular Arena. The Panthers will face three stiff tests, with Radford the opponent Friday, Washington State the opposition Saturday and UAB on the schedule for Sunday.