Jan. 10, 2008

Box Score |  Notes

VALPARAISO, Ind. - Deion James scored 20 points off the bench and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee staged a stunning late run without Paige Paulsen to claim a 71-69 win over Valparaiso Thursday night at the Athletics Recreation Center.

The Panthers (9-7, 4-2 Horizon) have now won six-straight games, including three-straight on the road. UWM did it by recovering from a 56-49 deficit with 8:41 to play and by overcoming the absence of Paulsen, who fouled out on back-to-back hotly-contested calls in a 36-second span with over six minutes left.

Milwaukee took the lead for good on a Ricky Franklin jumper with 39 seconds left and then hung on by making 5-of-6 free throws after that.

Jarryd Loyd scored 18 points to lead Valparaiso (11-5, 2-2), which had won 13-straight at home.

The Panthers actually led by as many as nine points in the first half but fell down by four at the break after both Paulsen and Franklin sat out the final four minutes with two fouls apiece. Then, after a back-and-forth first 10 minutes of the second half, Valpo looked to be pulling away when Urule Igbavboa converted a three-point play for a 56-49 edge with less than nine minutes left.

But, after Paulsen fouled out, Milwaukee tied the game at 61 on a pair of Allan Hanson free throws and tied the game again at 64 on a James three. Marcus Skinner drew a charge on Brandon McPherson on the next possession, setting up Franklin's go-ahead basket and sending the Panthers to victory.

"We could have folded or we could have second-guessed," UWM head coach Rob Jeter said of the possibilities when Paulsen fouled out. "But, I told the guys at halftime that some things were going to happen and to let me act like the little baby on the sidelines and jump around and to just play. `If you guys just play and let me handle the rest, we'll be fine.'"

Skinner added 13 points, eight rebounds and three assists for Milwaukee, which shot a season-best 50 percent from the field. Deonte Roberts also added 12 and Paulsen 11 for Milwaukee, which has now climbed all the way to third place in the league after an 0-2 start and a six-game overall losing streak.

"We talked with the guys about turning that number six into something special," Jeter said. "The other six was nothing to be proud of. Our guys did something special to turn that around."

The stunning turnaround in this win was sparked by James, who sat out last season after transferring from Tulsa and is a walk-on this season. His 20 points marked the most the he has scored in a collegiate game at either UWM or Tulsa, with nine of his points coming after Paulsen fouled out.

"He's fearless," Jeter said. "He is good with the basketball in his hands and he has a confidence about him that comes through. He's just a player."

The Panthers got off to another strong start, with a James three giving UWM a 28-19 lead with 6:37 to play. But, by the final media timeout of the half, both Paulsen and Franklin were on the bench with two fouls, allowing Valpo to get back in the game. The Crusaders finished the half on a 19-6 run, with Loyd hitting a pair of threes during the spurt.

Neither team scored for the first 4:31 of the second half but the Panthers eventually rallied to claim a 45-42 lead on a Paulsen three with 11:38 left. Valpo recovered quickly, though, scoring 14 of the next 18 points to build a 56-49 edge with 8:41 to play. From there, the Panthers responded by finishing the game on a 22-13 run.

"Obviously this is a special place and we are aware of the NCAA history and what a great coach Coach Drew is. He arguably has, player-for-player, one of the best teams in the league," Jeter said. "I am proud of how we responded in this environment."

UWM continues its weekend road trip to Indiana Saturday afternoon, facing off with nationally-ranked Butler at Hinkle Fieldhouse.