Feb. 14, 2009

Box Score
Milwaukee Postgame Press Conference

YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - Vytas Sulskis hit a 15-footer with 1.4 seconds remaining to give Youngstown State a 70-68 win over the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Saturday night at the Beeghly Center.

The Panthers had rallied from a nine-point deficit with 5:47 remaining to take a 68-67 lead with 1:28 to play.

But, after a pair of empty possessions by Milwaukee and a single free throw from YSU, the Penguins got an offensive rebound from a Sulskis miss with 10 seconds remaining. YSU eventually got a timeout with just over four seconds to play and then ran a play off a sideline inbounds for the game-winner.

Sirlester Martin had 20 points to lead Youngstown State (10-15, 7-8 Horizon), which has won four-straight games. DeAndre Mays added 15 for the Penguins, who also beat Green Bay Thursday night.

James Eayrs had 19 points and 11 rebounds to lead Milwaukee (14-11, 9-6), which has dropped three-straight games. The Panthers also got 14 points from Ricky Franklin and 12 from Tone Boyle, though all of the points from those two players came in the first half.

UWM led by five at the break but gave it all away quickly in the second half. The Penguins pushed the lead to 60-52 on a basket by Martin with just under 11 minutes remaining.

YSU eventually led 65-56 with 5:47 left before Milwaukee rallied. A layin by Eayrs with 1:35 left brought Milwaukee within point and then a steal on the inbounds led to an Avery Smith layin and a 68-67 Panther lead.

The Panthers got the ball right back but did not score, with Smith fouling Zach Rebillot on the rebound. He made a single free throw to tie the game at 68, and Milwaukee again came up empty on its next possession, with Smith missing a runner with 25 seconds left.

That set up YSU's final chance, with the Sulskis jumper giving the Penguins their longest-ever Horizon League winning streak.

Milwaukee played a solid first 20 minutes of basketball. After Youngstown State scored the first six points of the game, UWM recovered to claim a 23-19 lead on an Anthony Hill follow-up basket with 8:28 remaining. The Panthers eventually went up 26-21, but the Penguins responded with five-straight to tie things at 26.

Three-pointers by Franklin and Boyle restored a 36-32 advantage for Milwaukee and another three by Franklin gave UWM a 41-36 advantage at the half.

The Panthers wound up making eight of their first 12 from three-point range and ended the first half 9-of-16 from beyond the arc. Unfortunately, UWM went cold from there, making just 9-of-29 from the floor in the second half.

The Panthers now return to the U.S. Cellular Arena for their final two home games of the regular season. UWM squares off with nationally-ranked Butler Wednesday before welcoming North Dakota State to town Saturday. Both games start at 7 p.m.