Nov. 24, 2007

Box Score |  Quotes |  Notes

MILWAUKEE - Josh Young scored 24 points to lead five players in double figures as Drake rode 54.7 percent shooting from the field to an 80-59 win over the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Saturday night at the U.S. Cellular Arena.

The Bulldogs (3-1) made nine 3-pointers in the first half alone and led by as many as 23 points in the second half.

The Panthers (3-2) never did get on track, shooting just 32.8 percent from the field. Roman Gentry led Milwaukee with 12 points.

"We've been putting together 20 minutes of solid basketball. Tonight I am not sure we put together five minutes of solid basketball," UWM head coach Rob Jeter said. "We have failed to put together 40 minutes all year. Twenty minutes have saved us, but not tonight."

The Panthers actually looked to be in the ballgame when a jumper by Gentry cut the Drake lead to 42-37 with 16:32 remaining. But, the Bulldogs scored 13 of the next 17 points to gain control of the game and UWM would never get closer than 12 points the rest of the way.

As has been the case in recent games, the Panthers struggled during the first 20 minutes. In fact, after UWM grabbed an early 9-7 lead, the Bulldogs ran off 11-straight points to claim an 18-9 edge. Milwaukee did cut the deficit to seven at 21-14 but would get no closer before the break. A three-pointer by Klayton Korver pushed the lead to 37-23 with 5:02 left, and another three by Jonathan Cox made it 40-26 with 2:49 left. The Panthers then scored the final four points of the half to pull within 10 at the break.

The Bulldogs made 9-of-15 from three-point range in the first half, leading to a 53.6 percent overall shooting clip. Meanwhile, the Panthers shot just 37.9 percent from the field in the first 20 minutes.

Then, after the fast start by UWM to start the second half, Drake pulled away by making 14-of-25 shots from the field.

UWM wraps up its four-game homestand Tuesday night, hosting Sam Houston State in a 7 p.m. contest at the U.S. Cellular Arena.