Jan. 31, 2010

Box Score
Milwaukee Postgame Audio |  Butler Postgame Audio

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MILWAUKEE - Gordon Hayward scored 25 points and Butler collected 27 points from the free-throw line to claim a 73-66 win over the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Sunday afternoon at the U.S. Cellular Arena.

The Panthers (13-10, 5-6 Horizon) led by as many as seven points in the first half and again by seven in the second half before the Bulldogs (18-4, 11-0) overtook them down the stretch.

Butler, ranked 18th in the latest ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Poll, took the lead for good on a layin by Ronald Nored with 8:20 remaining but could never really shake Milwaukee until the closing seconds. UWM was within 65-64 on a three by James Eayrs with 4:17 remaining and still within three at 69-66 with 1:05 left, but Butler hit four free throws to close out the game.

Anthony Hill scored 21 points and added eight rebounds to lead the Panthers, who made just 16-of-29 from the free throw line and shot only 39 percent from the floor.

UWM, with preseason all-league performer Tone Boyle already out for the season because of a back injury, played Sunday without Tony Meier (ankle) and Deonte Roberts (academic eligibility issues). That led Milwaukee to use a wide variety of players, including Ryan Haggerty (12 minutes, eight points, four rebounds), Riley Walker (seven minutes, two points, two rebounds) and Michael Tyler (five minutes, three rebounds).

Shelvin Mack and Nored added 13 points apiece while Matt Howard pitched-in with 11 for Butler, which made 27-of-37 from the line.

The game featured 51 fouls, with four players fouling out and another three ending the game with four fouls. Butler made 20 free throws in the second half alone.

After falling behind 18-13, UWM put together a 14-4 run to claim a 27-22 lead with 5:27 remaining in the half. Haggerty then scored on a layin with just less than two minutes to play to push the advantage to 35-28.

Butler, though, countered with the next 10 points, six to end the first half and four to start the second half, as the Bulldogs claimed a 38-35 advantage.

UWM had the next run, going up 47-42 on a three by Jason Averkamp with 14:55 left before a Ricky Franklin jumper extended the lead to 49-42. Butler pulled back within 51-50, but baskets by Averkamp and Haggerty made it 55-50 with 10:45 left.

That's as good as it would get for the Panthers, though, as Butler scored the next eight points to seize the lead for good. The Bulldogs then closed things out down the stretch, holding Milwaukee without a field goal over the final 4:17 of the game.

UWM doesn't play again until Saturday, when it makes the short trip up I-43 to face off with Green Bay. That game tips off at 7 p.m. CST.