Jan. 9, 2010

Box Score

UWM Postgame Audio |  GB Postgame Audio

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MILWAUKEE - James Eayrs had 15 points and 13 rebounds and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee posted solid efforts on both ends of the floor to claim a 71-51 win over the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Saturday afternoon at the U.S. Cellular Arena.

Milwaukee (10-7, 2-3 Horizon) shot 51.2 percent from the floor and made 10 three-pointers while limiting Green Bay (11-6, 4-2) to just 36.1 percent shooting from the field.

Ricky Franklin added 14 points and six rebounds while Jerard Ajami pitched-in with a collegiate-best 12 points.

The Panthers had runs of 17-4 and 13-0 to build a pair of double-figure leads and then closed the game out on 24-8 burst.

Bryquis Perine had 15 points and Troy Cotton 14 for Green Bay.

UWM used a stellar inside-outside game to take control from the outset. Milwaukee wound up with 24 points in the paint and 26 free-throw attempts while making 10-of-20 from three-point range.

"It was one of our better games, no doubt about it," UWM head coach Rob Jeter said. "We knew they had three guards that really fill it up, and for the most part I thought we made them take tough shots. (Offensively) we stuck to our gameplan. We got the ball inside and out and really put a lot of pressure on them there."

Milwaukee got off to a lightning-quick start, scoring 17 of the first 21 points of the game. In fact, after Green Bay led, 4-3, Milwaukee scored 14 in a row to claim a 17-4 advantage just six minutes in.

Green Bay countered with a big run of its own. The Phoenix scored 17 of the next 21 points, eventually tying the contest at 21 on a three-point play by Rian Pearson with 5:43 remaining.

UWM made the final two surges, building the lead back to 28-21 with seven-straight points and, after GB pulled to within 30-28, scored the last five of the half for a 35-28 advantage.

The Panthers continued that run at the start of the second half, scoring the first eight points to total a 13-0 run and a 43-28 lead. Green Bay did fight back to within 47-43 with under 12 minutes remaining, but it was all Milwaukee from there.

A three by Franklin pushed the lead back to 55-45 with seven minutes left and a free throw by Anthony Hill inched the lead to 62-47 with 2:05 remaining. UWM then hit five free throws and two layups to close things out.

Milwaukee continues its three-game homestand with a pair of games next week. UWM faces Detroit Thursday night before Wright State visits Saturday evening.