Feb. 18, 2010

Box Score
Milwaukee Postgame Press Conference |  Cleveland State Postgame Press Conference |  Jeter at Major Goolsby's

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MILWAUKEE - Freshmen Ja'Rob McCallum and Lonnie Boga scored 12 points apiece to lead the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee to a key 69-59 win over Cleveland State Thursday night at the U.S. Cellular Arena.

The Panthers (16-12, 8-8 Horizon) used runs of 14-4 and 9-2 in the second half to take control of the game.

Boga scored 10-straight UWM points midway through the second half to give the Panthers a 55-43 lead with 7:03 left. CSU never got closer than six points after that.

UWM shot 56.5 percent in the second half and had 17 offensive rebounds in the game. The Panthers also made 16-of-20 free throws in the final 20 minutes. Plus, Milwaukee's bench wound up outscoring Cleveland State, 39-14.

James Eayrs pitched-in with 11 points, while Boga added a collegiate-best eight rebounds.

Norris Cole scored 22 points to lead Cleveland State (13-15, 9-7).

UWM led by five points midway through the first half before extending the edge to 23-17 on a jumper by McCallum with 4:05 remaining. But CSU scored the next four points and then neither team converted a basket over the final 2:53 of the half, with UWM carrying a 23-21 lead into the halftime locker room.

Cleveland State took a pair of one-point leads early in the second half, but a 14-4 run by the Panthers gave them a 43-34 lead with under 12 minutes left. CSU was able to crawl back to within five on a pair of occasions, but 10 points from Boga plus a layin by Michael Tyler made it 55-43 with 7:03 left.

Four-straight points from Cole brought the Vikings within 61-55 with two minutes left, but Milwaukee made 8-of-10 free throws from there to seal the win.

UWM wraps up its busy week with a Saturday night contest against Niagara. The annual BracketBusters matchup tips off at 7 p.m. and will conclude Milwaukee's regular season home schedule.