Jan. 21, 2007

Box Score |  Quotes |  Notes

MILWAUKEE - Paige Paulsen scored 17 points and added 10 rebounds as the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee claimed a 73-69 win over Wright State Sunday afternoon at the U.S. Cellular Arena.

The Panthers (7-14, 4-4 Horizon) knocked off a first-place team for the second-straight outing while winning back-to-back games for the first time this season.

Avery Smith added 15 points and Ricky Franklin pitched in with 13 for Milwaukee, which shot a season-best 45.3 percent from the field in claiming its fourth win in its last five home games.

DaShaun Wood scored 21 points and added 10 rebounds for the Raiders (12-8, 5-2), who started the day tied for first place in the league with Butler.

The Panthers trailed most of the first half as the Raiders shot 68.2 percent from the field. But, Milwaukee took the lead for good at 51-50 on a pair of Franklin free throws with 11:23 to play and then led by as many as nine points before hanging on down the stretch.

"As I have said from the beginning, it's a process with this team and these guys. By no means are we where we want to be or where we need to be, but we're at least showing the toughness and the togetherness - that fact that we're staying together - to give ourselves a chance," UWM head coach Rob Jeter said. "I thought tonight that's exactly what we did. We stayed together during some of those tough moments in that second half and did enough to get it done."

The final dagger came with the shot clock winding down, under a minute to play, and the Panthers hanging on to a 65-62 lead. Smith found himself free just beyond the top of the key, where he knocked in three as the shot clock expired to give the Panthers a little breathing room in the closing seconds.

"I saw Ricky - he was going to the wing - so I just tried to get open," Smith said. "Once I got to the top of the key, he found me, and I just it go."

The key run for UWM, which started with the two Franklin free throws, included four points apiece from Paulsen and senior Nick Hansen. It was a layin by Paulsen with 5:55 remaining that gave the Panthers a 62-53 lead, capping a 15-4 run.

From there, Wright State pulled to within three on a Vaughn Duggins three-pointer with 2:11 remaining and again to within three on a Drew Burleson three with 1:16 left. But, Smith's key three came on the next possession, and the Panthers then hit five of six free throws to hang on for the win.

The Raiders threatened to open up a large lead in the first half thanks to its hot shooting. But, WSU could never build its advantage to more than seven, with that lead coming at 26-19 following a Will Graham basket with 8:59 remaining.

The Panthers scored six-straight points after that basket to pull within 26-25 and, after again falling behind by six, rallied to tie the game at 39 on a Roman Gentry three-point play with 49 seconds left. A single free throw by Scottie Wilson then gave the Raiders a 40-39 at the break.

UWM returns to action Thursday night, playing at Detroit. The game tips off at 6 p.m. CST and can be seen on WMLW in Milwaukee as well as nationwide as part of ESPN's Full Court Package.