Nov. 16, 2009

Box Score |  Postgame Press Conference Audio

BATON ROUGE, La. - Preseason Sun Belt Conference Player of the Year A.J. Slaughter scored 30 points and Western Kentucky held off a valiant effort by the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee to claim a 69-65 win Monday in the first round of the Dick's Sporting Goods NIT Season Tipoff Tournament.

James Eayrs scored 13 points to lead five players in double figures for the Panthers (1-1), who trailed by 10 early in the first half before leading by as many as six in the second half.

But, there was too much of Slaughter for the Panthers to pull out the win. At one point during the second half, Slaughter scored 14 of his team's 16 points as the Hilltoppers built a five-point lead with 3:20 remaining.

Milwaukee didn't go away, though, pulling with two points on a basket by Eayrs with 4.6 seconds remaining. But, Sergio Kerusch knocked home two free throws just a second later to seal the win for Western Kentucky, which went to the second round of the NCAA Tournament a year ago after a Sweet 16 appearance in 2008.

Freshman Patrick Souter scored 12 points off the bench for Milwaukee, while Ricky Franklin added 11 and Deonte Roberts and Tony Meier pitched-in with 10 apiece.

Kerusch and Steffphon Pettigrew contributed 13 points each for Western Kentucky (1-0).

UWM will now face Indiana State Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. The Sycamores fell to LSU in the late game Monday.

"Western Kentucky is a very tough team and a very talented team. I can see why Slaughter was picked as the best player in that league because he made a lot of plays down the stretch - a lot of big plays," UWM head coach Rob Jeter said. "After a brilliant performance from Slaughter, we still had our opportunities to be right there but didn't cash in. I definitely was pleased with our fight. We showed that grittiness and toughness that we've talked about. That's who we have to be."

The Panthers dug themselves an 18-8 hole thanks to a seven-minute scoreless spell in the first half. But, UWM found its stride over the final 10 minutes of the half. A three-pointer by Souter brought Milwaukee within 22-17 with just under eight minutes to play and a driving layin by Roberts cut the lead to three 27 seconds later.

WKU restored a seven-point lead at 30-23 on a three-pointer by Slaughter with 3:19 remaining, but UWM pitched a shutout from there. A layin by Roberts pulled Milwaukee within 30-28 and then a three-pointer by Franklin to cap a patient offensive possession gave the Panthers a 31-30 lead at the break.

Milwaukee extended its edge early in the second half, going up 34-30 on a three by Eayrs and 41-35 on a layin by Franklin. WKU came back with seven-straight to reclaim the lead at 42-41 with 15 minutes to play, but neither team could then pull away. Milwaukee's final lead came at 56-55 on a three-pointer by Meier with 6:06 remaining, with Western Kentucky taking the lead for good on its next possession.