Dec. 2, 2010

Box Score  | Audio - Milwaukee Postgame Press Conference
Postgame Extra  |  Audio Highlights

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MILWAUKEE - Anthony Hill scored a collegiate-best 30 points as the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee claimed a 76-67 win over Youngstown State Thursday night at the U.S. Cellular Arena.

Hill also had a career-high 12 rebounds as the Panthers (4-4, 1-0) dominated the game inside and then hit their final six free throws to hang on for the win in their Horizon League opener.

Kaylon Williams added 14 points, eight rebounds and four assists while Tony Meier pitched-in with eight rebounds, six assists and four points.

Milwaukee led by as many as 10 points in the first half but saw Youngstown State take a 47-46 lead on a Blake Allen three. But, Hill scored 14 of UWM's next 18 points as the Panthers restored a double-digit advantage.

Williams and Meier then combined to go a perfect 6-of-6 from the line in the final minute to preserve the win.

Vytas Sulskis had 18 points and Devonte Maymon 16 for Youngstown State (4-2, 0-1).

In the end, it was the Milwaukee defense that came through to compliment the great play of Hill. The Penguins made eight 3-pointers in the first 23-plus minutes of the game, then didn't make one the rest of the night. YSU wound up shooting just 28 percent in the second half and 35.3 percent overall.

"It seems as though every team was coming in (to the start of league play) with momentum. Every team was playing well going in. Youngstown was one of those teams that had played very well," UWM head coach Rob Jeter said. "Were we prepared to handle a very tough team? Absolutely. We stuck to our plan and continued to play Milwaukee basketball, and that's what, ultimately, won it for us.

"You can definitely see these guys starting to understand our pace, our style and stay within that framework."

Milwaukee scored 12 of the first 14 points of the game, with a Tone Boyle three-point play capping the early run. The lead was still 22-14 on a tip-in by Kyle Kelm with just over 10 minutes left and was 32-25 when Hill scored on the inside with 6:33 remaining.

But YSU didn't go away, as a three-pointer by Sulskis made it 41-39 just before halftime. Two free throws by Kelm gave Milwaukee a 43-39 halftime edge.

The Allen 3 made it 47-46 Youngstown and two Sulskis free throws shortly thereafter tied the game at 48. But, Hill scored the next four to give Milwaukee a lead it would never give back.

The advantage grew to 60-52 on a three-point play by Hill with 8:52 remaining and to 62-52 on another basket by Hill 30 seconds later.

Youngstown was able to fight back to within three on a driving layin by Maymon with 2:50 left, but the Penguins did not score again. Four free throws from Williams made it 74-67 with 43.2 seconds remaining before two free throws from Meier provided the final margin.

UWM continues the opening weekend of Horizon League play by welcoming unbeaten Cleveland State to the U.S. Cellular Arena Saturday night. The game starts at 7 p.m. and fans in attendance will receive a free Pounce The Panther Bobblehead. The game will also be televised live across eastern Wisconsin on Time Warner Cable Sports 32.