Nov. 23, 2009

Box Score
Postgame Audio with Rob Jeter
Postgame Audio with James Eayrs
Audio Highlights

FORT WORTH, Tex. - James Eayrs scored 28 points and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee built a 26-point halftime lead en route to a 96-77 win over Texas State Monday night in a consolation game of the NIT Season Tipoff Tournament.

UWM (3-2) scored the first 16 points of the game and was never threatened after that. The lead actually grew to 32 points early in the second half and the Panthers made liberal use of their bench from there.

In fact, Eayrs scored his 28 points in just 19 minutes, scoring 22 in the first half alone. Deonte Roberts added 14 points and six assists while Ricky Franklin pitched-in with 12 points and five assists in just 17 minutes.

The game was foul-filled, with 64 fouls and 75 free throws between the two teams. Milwaukee had four players foul out of the contest but did make 34-of-43 from the line to hold off any rally by the Bobcats (1-4) in the second half.

Milwaukee also wound up shooting a season-best 52.1 percent from the floor and made 12 three-pointers.

After a sluggish performance Saturday in a home win over Hillsdale, the Panthers were sharp from the outset Monday.

"I was really please with how the guys came out of the blocks there," UWM head coach Rob Jeter said. "We came out of the locker room to start the game and really played with the passion and the energy, something that I thought was missing from our last contest."

The 16-point opening run included nine points from Eayrs and put the Bobcats on their heels from the start.

"They really weren't covering me too well. I just have to give it up to my point guards. The screen and pop was working tonight, so that was really nice," Eayrs said. "We were talking about energy and passion before the game in the locker room. I thought we came out tonight and really showed a lot of energy. We needed a quick start."

Eayrs wound up making six 3-pointers in the first half. Then, in his limited minutes in the second half, he added a pair of post baskets and two free throws to cap his collegiate-best offensive effort.

"Big James - I thought all the shots he took were good," Jeter said. "He scored 28 points in (limited) minutes, knowing we're going to need him again for the next night. Big James was spectacular tonight on the offensive end. I thought, defensively, he was pretty solid, too."

The early-going told the story of the game. A layin from Patrick Souter off a pass from Franklin made it 16-0 just six minutes in and a three-pointer by Eayrs at the 8:39 mark pushed the lead to 31-10. As if that wasn't enough, a three by Jerard Ajami at the halftime horn gave UWM a 50-24 lead in the locker room.

UWM then added to the advantage in the second half, with a three-pointer by Franklin making it 60-28 just two minutes in. Texas State would eventually get as close as 13 points late in the second half but could never make a serious effort at finishing off a comeback.

The Panthers wound up killing the final five minutes off with four freshmen on the floor. In the backcourt, Ja'Rob McCallum had eight points in six late minutes while Patrick Souter (26 minutes) and Lonnie Boga (20 minutes) both saw extensive time.

Milwaukee will wrap up its stay in Texas and its play in the NIT Season Tipoff with a Tuesday game against Colgate. The game starts at 5:30 p.m. CST. The Red Raiders are playing the hosts from TCU in Monday's second game.