Feb. 14, 2007

Box Score |  Quotes

MILWAUKEE - Blake Schilb scored 15 points to lead four players in double figures as Loyola University Chicago claimed a 66-56 win over the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Wednesday night at the U.S. Cellular Arena.

The Panthers (8-19, 5-9 Horizon) missed 13 of their first 15 shots and could never get on track against the Ramblers (18-9, 9-5), who used the win to secure the third seed in the Horizon League Tournament.

UWM trailed by as many as 12 points in the first half, closed to within four early in the second half, but then saw Loyola steadily pull away.

Paige Paulsen led Milwaukee with 16 points while Avery Smith added 10 points and five assists.

"They made it look easy and, at times, we just made it look difficult," UWM head coach Rob Jeter said. "In the first half, I thought we really put ourselves at a disadvantage by not attacking them and settling for the outside shot, going against the flow. In the second half, I thought we played a little more like we want to play."

UWM's early second-half rally saw the Panthers pull within four points on three different occasions and again to within five on a Ryan Thornton three with 11:03 remaining. But, the Ramblers responded to the basket with a 7-0 run and the lead never went under double figures after that.

Loyola led by as many as 12 points in the first half and led by 10 at halftime behind 10 points from Schilb and seven from Blount. The Ramblers claimed a 14-4 lead after 10 minutes and pushed the lead to 18-6 on a Brandon Woods layin with 8:38 remaining. A Panther run pulled UWM to within 22-17, but Loyola countered with four-straight points to rebuild a nine-point lead before eventually getting the advantage back to double figures.

UWM returns to action Saturday night, heading outside of Horizon League play for a BracketBusters contest with Drake. The game tips off at 7 p.m. CST.