Feb. 15, 2010

Box Score
Milwaukee Postgame Press Conference

MILWAUKEE - James Eayrs scored 22 points and Ricky Franklin added 19 as the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee hung on for a 64-62 win over Youngstown State Monday night at the U.S. Cellular Arena.

The Panthers (15-12, 7-8 Horizon) led by 13 points with 2:35 remaining but then had to see a last-second three-pointer by Ashen Ward waved off as time expired.

Milwaukee somehow pulled out the victory in spite of 30.9 percent shooting from the field. UWM trailed by four early in the second half but used an 11-0 run to claim a lead it would never give back.

DeAndre Mays scored 23 points and Vytas Sulskis 12 for the Penguins (8-18, 2-14), who have lost each of their last two games by just two points.

UWM's big second-half run started after Youngstown built a 39-35 lead early in the second half. A three-point play by Franklin gave the Panthers the lead for good at 42-39 and a jumper by Eayrs made it 44-39. Eayrs and Tony Meier each added single free throws to make it 11-straight points.

Then, after a single basket from YSU, Franklin hit two-straight 3's to make it 52-41 with 7:10 left. Milwaukee eventually had the lead at 60-47 with 2:35 to play, but Youngstown State nearly came all the way back. Two-straight threes from Mays brought the Penguins within 60-55 with 1:17 remaining, and a follow-up basket by Ward made it 62-59 with 17.9 left.

The teams traded turnovers in the next 10 seconds before Jerard Ajami made a single free throw with 8.5 seconds left. Mays then hit another three to make it 63-62 with 3.3 seconds remaining before Ryan Haggerty was fouled with 2.5 seconds left. After missing the first, he tried to miss the second but made it, setting the stage for YSU's final chance.

Mays took the inbounds pass and raced up the court, launching a shot over Ajami. Officials waved off the shot immediately, then confirmed the call through video replay.

The first half was a rough one for both teams. After Youngstown scored the first five points of the game, Milwaukee recovered to take a 10-7 lead, with all 10 points courtesy of Eayrs. UWM still led 20-17 later in the half, but YSU eventually captured a 29-27 advantage and then carried a 31-28 lead into the locker room.

UWM continues its homestand Thursday night, welcoming Cleveland State to the U.S. Cellular Arena for a special 7:30 p.m. tipoff. The game is part of a doubleheader with the Panther women, who face Loyola at 5:30 p.m.