Jan. 5, 2010

Box Score
Jeter Postgame Audio Interview

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. - Ricky Franklin scored 20 points to lead three players in double figures as the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee claimed an 83-73 win over Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Tuesday night at the Vadalabene Center.

The Panthers (9-7) led by as many as 23 points in snapping a three-game losing streak.

Freshman Ja'Rob McCallum added 19 points and Jason Averkamp recorded his first collegiate double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds.

Milwaukee used a 17-4 first-half run to lead by nine at halftime then put the game away with a 16-0 run in the second 20 minutes.

Aamir McCleary scored 18 points to lead four players in double figures for SIU Edwardsville (2-13).

But the story Tuesday started with the play of the Averkamp. With four UWM starters on the bench in the first half with foul trouble, he sparked Milwaukee to a nine-point halftime lead with 11 of his points and nine of his rebounds. The Panthers wound up with 50 total points off the bench.

"This is the type of team and the type of game `Kamp' excels in," UWM head coach Rob Jeter said. "He's very fundamental, he's going to give you everything he has and he has a knack for getting those rebounds. As a result, he really did a nice job on the offensive glass."

UWM was dominant inside, holding a 48-29 lead in rebounds while collecting 30 points in the paint. Milwaukee had 20 offensive boards, leading to 19 second-chance points. The Panthers also struck from the perimeter, adding nine 3-pointers.

"When we hit that run there, we touched the post and even got that extra pass in the post," Jeter said. "We also got some kick-outs for threes. Just looking at what SIU Edwardsville was going to do to us, I thought we executed our game plan well in that stretch."

After SIUE grabbed an early 7-4 lead, the Panthers took the lead for good at 14-11 on a three-point play by Averkamp. The Cougars were still within 16-15 when Milwaukee rattled off 12-straight points, all on three-pointers. McCallum and James Eayrs started the run with long-distance baskets before Franklin hit two-straight threes for a 28-15 advantage.

SIUE did pull within six points with four minutes to play but could never get any closer. Four points from Averkamp and three points from McCallum down the stretch on the half gave Milwaukee a 39-30 lead at the break.

The Cougars did close within 39-35 and 41-37 early in the second half, but Milwaukee put the game away by scoring the next 16 points. McCallum started the burst with eight-straight points and Franklin capped it off with a three-pointer, giving UWM a 57-37 lead with 13:27 remaining.s

The Panthers eventually led by as many as 23 points, only to see the Cougars use a 17-2 run to pull within 71-63 with under four minutes remaining but SIUE would never get any closer.

UWM returns to action Saturday afternoon, welcoming in-state rival Green Bay to the U.S. Cellular Arena for a 1 p.m. contest. The game kicks off a three-game homestand for the Panthers, who had played 11 of their first 16 games away from home.