Nov. 14, 2011

Box Score

DeKALB, Ill. - James Haarsma had 15 points and 12 rebounds as the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee hung on for a 59-57 win over Northern Illinois Monday night at the Convocation Center.

The Panthers (2-0) led by as many as 14 points in the first half but then had to overcome 25 percent shooting and a 6-of-14 effort from the foul line in the second 20 minutes.

Ja'Rob McCallum added 12 points while Kyle Kelm and Ryan Allen had 10 apiece.

Tim Toler had 11 points to lead Northern Illinois (0-2).

The game wasn't decided until Antone Christian's shot from just beyond half court missed as time expired.

The Panthers continue to play without preseason all-league honoree Tony Meier, who is sidelined with a calf injury.

Northern Illinois overcame its big first half deficit with a 19-5 from late in the first half through early in the second half. The Huskies led twice but then could never regain the advantage from there.

Both teams struggled from the field overall, with Milwaukee finishing the game at 36.4 percent and NIU at 37 percent. The two squads also combined for 38 turnovers, with the Huskies committing 23 of them.

"Just trying to get the ball to go in the hoop for both teams was an adventure," UWM head coach Rob Jeter said. "For our team, it was certainly an adventure and Northern Illinois had a lot to do with that. We escaped, that's the best way to put it. Our second half ... we were outplayed."

Milwaukee led 35-21 very late in the first half before NIU started its surge. The Huskies took the lead for the first time at 40-39 on a Toler basket with 10:35 remaining. Kelm gave Milwaukee the lead back for good at 43-42 on a layin 40 seconds later, and UWM went up 51-45 on a Haarsma three with 3:55 left.

Milwaukee then found itself hanging on. UWM had a six-point lead with 20 seconds remaining before NIU scored the next five points to pull within 58-57 with 5.6 seconds remaining. Paris Gulley then made a single free throw with 4.7 seconds remaining, setting up the long shot by Christian.

The Panthers had steadily opened a lead over the first 20 minutes. UWM jumped out to a 10-4 lead on a Kaylon Williams three with just under 13 minutes remaining and the lead grew to 15-8 when Williams found Kelm for an alley-oop dunk at the midway point of the half.

The advantage grew to 22-11 on a pair of Allen free throws with 6:25 remaining and Milwaukee eventually led 30-17 when McCallum converted on a layup with just over three minutes left.

NIU did get back as close as nine late in the half but a three-pointer by Ryan Haggerty gave the Panthers a 35-21 lead and UWM led 35-23 at the break.

That was when the Huskies turned things around, nearly pulling off the comeback and the upset over the Panthers.

UWM returns home for a pair of games this weekend, hosting IUPUI Friday and Texas Southern Sunday.