Dec. 8, 2009

Box Score

MILWAUKEE - Jimmy Butler scored 19 points to lead three players in double figures as Marquette claimed a 71-51 win over the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Tuesday night at the Bradley Center.

The Panthers (6-4) committed 20 turnovers and were beaten by a pair of Golden Eagle runs.

The first key burst came over the final eight minutes of the first half, with Marquette turning a 16-15 lead into a 30-17 advantage. Then, with UWM still within 10 points and 8:52 to play, the Golden Eagles ended the game on a 23-13 burst.

Anthony Hill led Milwaukee with 10 points, while Ricky Franklin and Ja'Rob McCallum added eight points apiece.

After UWM dug itself an early 16-9 hole, the Panthers scored six in a row. Franklin started the run with two free throws before Hill and Patrick Souter added baskets to bring Milwaukee within a point with eight minutes to play. In all, UWM held Marquette without a basket for nearly five minutes.

But, after those six-straight points, Milwaukee went quiet, too. The Panthers were without a field goal for the next seven-plus minutes as Marquette built a 13-point advantage. A basket by McCallum did close the gap to 11 points at the break.

Tony Meier hit a three out of halftime to bring the Panthers within eight points and Milwaukee again closed within 10 points on a three by McCallum with 10 minutes remaining. The teams traded baskets with UWM still down just 10 and under nine minutes remaining, but Marquette scored seven of the next nine points to take control and cruise to the win.

Milwaukee returns to action Saturday night, making the trip to Fargo for a contest with North Dakota State. The game, a rematch of last year's BracketBusters contest, gets underway at 7 p.m.