Box Score Feb. 15, 2006
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MILWAUKEE -
Six University of Illinois at Chicago players scored in double figures and the Flames made 28 of their 40 free throw attempts to claim a 94-86 overtime victory over the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Wednesday night at the U.S. Cellular Arena.
The loss snaps the Panthers' 19-game homecourt winning streak, which was the second-longest active streak in the nation. It also drops UWM (18-7, 11-4 Horizon) into a tie with Butler in the loss column atop the Horizon League standings.
Milwaukee, playing with starting center Adrian Tigert severely limited by a back injury and backup forward Kevin Massiah out with a strained calf, struggled to keep UIC away from the basket. The Flames shot 57.4 percent from the field for the game and made 4-of-7 shots in overtime.
Josh Mayo led UIC (13-13, 6-8) with 21 points, while Othyus Jeffers added a double-double of 18 points and 10 rebounds.
Boo Davis led the Panthers with a career-high 31 points while Joah Tucker added 19 points and 10 rebounds for his fourth double-double of the season.
"It wasn't a great night for this team," Milwaukee head coach Rob Jeter said. "UIC played an excellent game - their zone gave us fits all night. We were unable to figure out how to get into the zone and get some easy baskets and it cost us the game."
The game looked like it was going to end in regulation when Justin Bowen made a single free throw with six seconds remaining to give UIC a 76-73 lead. But, as the Panthers rushed the ball up the floor, Davis was fouled by Jeffers as he attempted a wild three-point try. The officials determined Davis was not in the act of shooting, though, and awarded two free throws. Davis made the first throw before intentionally missing the second, and the rebound went out of bounds off of UIC. On the ensuing inbounds play, Allan Hanson caught the ball in the corner and drove the baseline before being knocked to the floor. A foul was called with 0.3 seconds remaining, and Hanson hit both free throws to send the game to overtime.
UWM's final lead in the overtime period came at 82-81 with 2:34 remaining. Kevin Bond scored on a layup on UIC's next possession and another Bond jumper with 1:37 left extended the lead to 85-82 with 1:37 left. Avery Smith's layin brought the Panthers back to within a point with 1:13 remaining, but a three-pointer by Mayo with 45 seconds remaining gave UIC an 88-84 lead and the Panthers would never get any closer.
The Panthers stumbled out of the blocks as UIC built early leads of 8-0 and 11-3. Milwaukee did recover, pulling within a point at 18-17 on a Tucker three with 9:48 left. After UIC rebuilt a four-point lead, the Panthers took their first lead at 24-23 on a Mark Pancratz layin with seven minutes left.
The UWM lead did eventually hit four points when a Davis three with 3:42 left made it 32-28. But, the Flames were not ready to go away. They tied the game at 32 on an Jeffers layin and took a 37-36 lead into the locker room when Mayo hit a three right before the halftime horn.
UWM's troubles in the first half came mainly on the defensive end, as UIC shot 62.5 percent from the field. The Panthers did stay in the game thanks to forcing 14 turnovers, but UWM committed 10 turnovers of their own to negate any major advantage.
Milwaukee looked like its might be able to take control of the game early in the second half, building a 48-43 lead on a basket by Derrick Ford with just under 16 minutes remaining. But, UIC answered that with an 8-2 run to regain the advantage and the two teams traded the lead the rest of regulation.
The Panthers return to action Saturday afternoon, hosting Missouri State in 1 p.m. contest. The game, which will be televised live on ESPN2, is part of the BracketBusters presented by eBay event.
