Dec. 31, 2011

Box Score

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Chase Stigall made a three-pointer with 41.3 seconds remaining to break a 49-all tie and help Butler get past the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, 54-50, Saturday afternoon at Hinkle Fieldhouse.

Milwaukee led 40-30 with 13:39 to play but made just two field goals the rest of the way. UWM wound up shooting just 34 percent from the field for the game, including only 6-of-25 from three-point range. The Panthers also had 18 turnovers.

Down 52-50, the Panthers (10-5, 3-1 Horizon) had a chance to tie the game in the final seconds, but James Haarsma missed the first of his two free throws before intentionally missing the second. Kameron Woods then made two free throws with 0.6 seconds left to provide for the final margin.

Kaylon Williams led the Panthers with 12 points, while Ryan Allen added 11 and Haarsma 10.

Chrishawn Hopkins had 12 points and Andrew Smith 11 for Butler (8-7, 2-1).

Milwaukee twice looked like it might be able to pull away. The Panthers led 14-5 in the early going of the contest before Butler rebounded to lead by one at the half. UWM then opened the second half on a 15-4 run to go up by 10. The Bulldogs steadily worked their way back in it from there and hit just enough big shots to pull out the win.

The first half played out just as expected, with each team combining stingy defense and spotty offense to end up nearly even. Milwaukee jumped out to the early advantage, scoring the first seven points of the game and eventually going up 14-5 on a three by Williams with 12:30 remaining.

Butler struck back, scoring 12 in a row for a 17-14 lead before pushing the edge to 26-20 on a Ronald Nored layin with 3:30 left. But, the Panthers had the edge from there, holding the Bulldogs scoreless while pulling within 26-25 at the break.

UWM opened the second half with a flurry. A three-pointer by Tony Meier made it 33-26 Milwaukee in the first two minutes of the half and a dunk by Allen extended the lead to 38-28. A follow-up basket by Christian Wolf kept the lead at 10 but Milwaukee would slowly lose control after that.

Butler took the lead back at 43-42 on a basket by Roosevelt Jones with 6:13 remaining and the two teams traded the advantage from there until Stigall's three pushed the Bulldogs toward victory.

Milwaukee pulled within 52-50 on a single Haarsma free throw with 22.1 seconds remaining and the Panthers got the ball back after Hopkins missed a free throw. After a Williams miss, Haarsma was fouled on a follow-up try with 1.6 seconds left. He missed the first shot short and then had to miss the second intentionally, with Woods securing the rebound and the win.

The Panthers step back outside of non-league play Tuesday, making the trip to Western Michigan for a 6 p.m. contest.