Nov. 27, 2010

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MILWAUKEE - The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee cut an 18-point deficit to two with just under a minute remaining but Marquette made seven of its final eight free throw attempts to hang on for a 75-72 win Saturday night at the U.S. Cellular Arena.

The Panthers (3-4) closed to within 68-66 on a pair of Anthony Hill free throws with 51 seconds left and again to within 70-68 on a Hill layin with 12 seconds remaining. But, Jimmy Butler made four free throws, Darius Johnson-Odom two and Joe Crowder one over the final minute to help Marquette hold on.

A Ryan Allen midcourt try to tie the game at the buzzer sailed over the backboard.

Darius Johnson-Odom scored 29 points to lead the Golden Eagles (5-2), who made 67 percent of their shots in the first 20 minutes but then scored just 28 points in the second half.

Milwaukee got 19 points from Ja'Rob McCallum, 18 points from Anthony Hill, 13 from Tony Meier and 12 from Kaylon Williams.

"What we take from it is that we hit some adversity and, unlike some other games that we've had, we responded to that adversity," UWM head coach Rob Jeter said. "There was a determination and an effort, I thought the passion to play the game was there, and that's the only way we can play this game to give ourselves a chance."

In the end, the Panthers came up just short in their quest to beat Marquette for the first time in school history.

"Whenever you don't come out on top it's always a missed opportunity," Jeter said.

The Panthers (3-4) actually had to dig out of a hole twice. Marquette jumped out to a 27-11 lead in the first nine minutes of the game as Johnson-Odom poured in 16 points. A pair of three by Meier helped Milwaukee cut that lead down to five at 38-33, but Marquette scored 15 of the next 17 points to build a 53-35 advantage.

Milwaukee truly came back from there. A three-pointer by Meier really sparked the comeback, trimming the deficit to 13, before a jumper by McCallum made it 60-52 with 7:24 left. McCallum converted a three-point play on the next possession to make it 60-55 with 6:33 remaining, and the Golden Eagles couldn't shake the Panthers after that.

Milwaukee cut the advantage to four at 68-64 following a Williams layin with 1:29 left. Hill's free throws then cut the deficit to two before the free throws helped the Golden Eagles hang on.

The Panthers dominated the glass in the game, outrebounding the Golden Eagles, 34-22, including 11-3 on the offensive glass. But, Marquette took advantage of its speed to collect 16 fast-break points and 21 points off turnovers. Milwaukee's comeback was helped by stark improvement in both of those categories in the second half, with MU recording just two fast-break points and six points off turnovers in the final 20 minutes.

UWM now shifts its attention to league play, welcoming Youngstown State to the U.S. Cellular Arena Thursday for a 7 p.m. contest.