Jan. 21, 2011

Box Score |  Postgame Extra

VALPARAISO, Ind. - Michael Rogers scored 14 points to lead four players in double figures as Valparaiso remained alone in first place in the Horizon League with a 60-43 win over the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Friday night at the Athletics Recreation Center.

The Crusaders (15-5, 7-1) limited the Panthers to 28.3 percent shooting from the field, while UWM converted just 2-of-21 from beyond the arc.

Tony Meier led the Panthers (9-11, 4-5 Horizon) with 16 points, but he was the only player in double figures for Milwaukee.

Howard Little added 12 points while Cory Johnson and Matt Kenney contributed 11 apiece for Valpo, which has won nine of its last 10 games.

The Panthers actually struggled from the outset on offense, missing their first 12 field goal attempts while collecting nine turnovers in the first 12 minutes of the game. Milwaukee, which entered the game as the Horizon League's top three-point shooting team, also missed on its first nine attempts from distance in the contest.

Valpo played without leading scorer Brandon Wood, who was sidelined by a hamstring injury, but still made 15 of its 27 shots in the first half in taking charge of the contest. UWM trailed by as many as 19 points in the first 20 minutes and never got closer than 14 points in the second half.

"That first 20 minutes we put ourselves in a hole by missing some shots and by missing some opportunities to get shots because of the turnovers," UWM head coach Rob Jeter said. "It just seemed like there was a lid on the basket. There were a lot of open looks that just didn't go in."

Valpo took control of the game immediately, jumping to a 17-4 lead with 11:35 remaining. The lead grew to 24-6 on a three-pointer by Jay Harris with 8:25 left as Milwaukee continued to search for its first field goal.

That finally came when Jerard Ajami scored in the lane with 6:05 remaining, cutting the Crusader lead to 24-9. UWM's first three-pointer then came with 3:05 left, as Meier connected from long range to make it 28-12.

But, the Panthers couldn't string any offense together before the break and went into the locker room down 33-16. The full first half saw Milwaukee make just 4-of-19 from the field while committing 12 turnovers, with the only salvation coming from a 7-of-9 effort from the free-throw line.

Milwaukee tried to inch back into the game early in the second half, with a Meier three making it 35-21 and a pair of free throws by Anthony Hill making it 38-24. But, the Panthers came up empty on a pair of possessions to get within 12 points before the Crusaders used a 12-4 run to build a 50-28 lead. UWM never got closer than 16 points after that.

UWM continues its weekend road trip through Indiana, heading to Indianapolis for a Sunday afternoon contest with Butler.