Feb. 24, 2007

Box Score |  Notes

GREEN BAY, Wis. - Paige Paulsen converted the game-winning layup with 1.2 seconds remaining to push the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee into a 74-73 win over UW-Green Bay Saturday night at the Resch Center.

Paulsen's hoop accounted for the final two points of a 7-0 UWM run that ended the game. The Panthers had the ball for a final possession after a UWGB turnover and Avery Smith threw a perfect pass to Paulsen for the game-winner.

Ryan Evanochko then missed a 40-footer at the buzzer for Green Bay.

Ricky Franklin led Milwaukee with 17 points and was one of four Panthers in double figures. Smith added 16, Paulsen 12 and Allan Hanson 11.

With the win, Milwaukee (9-21, 6-10 Horizon) claims the seventh seed in the upcoming league tournament and will play a first-round game at UIC Tuesday night.

The Panthers won despite seeing the Phoenix (16-14, 7-9) convert 15-of-20 field goals in the second half and shoot 59.2 percent for the game. Mike Schachtner scored 23 points to lead Green Bay.

"It's all about pride," UWM head coach Rob Jeter said. "I know I'm proud to represent Milwaukee and these guys are proud to wear this uniform. Tonight, we came up here with pride. We have been through a lot this season and fought through a lot tonight."

The back-and-forth second half saw fivc ties and five lead changes, with the Phoenix eventually pulling out to a 65-58 lead with 5:22 remaining. UWM cut the lead back to two on a pair of occasions, but UWGB struck back to reclaim a 73-67 lead on a free throw by Ryan Tillema with 1:50 remaining.

The Panthers shut out the Phoenix from there, cutting the lead to four on a Kaylan Anderson layin and to one on a Franklin three with 52.6 seconds left.

Franklin then stole the ball from Evanochko in the lane with 33.8 seconds remaining to set up UWM's final possession. The clock wound to under 10 seconds and Smith worked around a screen from Paulsen. When the double team came to Smith, he found Paulsen open under the basket for the easy game-winning convcrsion.

Green Bay started hot in the first half, building an 18-10 lead after just six minutes of play. But, as the Phoenix cooled off, the Panthers steadily got back in the game.

A basket by Roman Gentry pulled Milwaukee back to within 22-18 and a three-pointer by Gentry made it 27-25 with 8:18 to play. UWM then closed back to within two points on two other occasions down the stretch in the first half and used a Hanson three-pointer to pull within 35-32 at the break.

Schachtner had 17 of his points in the first half alone, helping the Phoenix to shoot 48.3 percent from the field. UWM's balanced first-half attack included nine points from Franklin and eight apiece from Gentry and Paulsen.

Milwaukee then took the lead twice early in the second half, with the second time coming with 17:48 remaining when a pair of Marcus Skinner free throws made it 40-39. UWGB reclaimed the lead on its next possession and looked like it would never give it back unti UWM's late rally helped the Panthers steal the win.

UWM's Horizon League Tournament game with UIC will tip off at 7 p.m. CST Tuesday night at the UIC Pavilion. For ticket information, contact the UWM Ticket Office at 414-229-5886.