Feb. 19, 2011

Box Score Postgame Extra

BUFFALO, NY - Zach Filzen scored 30 points to lead four players in double figures as hot-shooting Buffalo claimed an 80-65 win over the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Saturday night.

Anthony Hill had 19 points, Tone Boyle 16 and Ja'Rob McCallum 15 for UWM (16-12), which saw its seven-game winning streak snapped.

The Bulls (16-9) hit their shots from the outset and never really cooled off. Buffalo wound up shooting 59.2 percent for the game and made 8-of-14 from three-point range.

The non-conference BracketBusters game comes in the midst of an important run of league games for Milwaukee, which has still won seven in a row in the league and plays at first-place Cleveland State Thursday night. The Panthers would likely be the second seed in the league tournament if they can win their final two games, and can still win at least a share of the league title with two wins and a Valparaiso loss.

UWM will also look to get healthy over the next five days, as Ryan Allen missed the game after hitting the floor following a hard foul against Valparaiso. Plus, Hill was limited to 26 minutes after injuring his ankle in the second half while Kaylon Williams had to be helped off the floor for the second-straight game. Williams actually played just 24 minutes, mainly because of extensive foul trouble, while Tony Meier played just 18 minutes.

It felt like the Panthers were on the ropes the entire first half, with Buffalo shooting 56 percent in the first 20 minutes. The Bulls took the lead for good at 15-14 and eventually led 20-14 on a follow-up by Javon McCrea with 11:35 remaining. The Panthers were able to close with three on a Boyle three on the next possession, but a three by Filzen pushed the lead back to 27-20.

UWM was still within 33-30 on a McCallum three with two minutes remaining and within 36-32 on a runner by McCallum about 40 seconds later. But, a McCrea layup and a Filzen three in the final minute pushed Buffalo ahead, 41-32, at the break.

The Bulls quickly extended their lead to 43-32 on a dunk by Dave Barnett to start the second half. But, a three by Meier brought Milwaukee back to within 47-40 and four-straight points from Hill made it 53-47 with 15:20 remaining.

But, Hill left the game shortly thereafter and Buffalo had the next run, with a Filzen three and back-to-back baskets by Jawaan Alston making it 62-49 with 12:30 remaining.

The lead eventually went all the way out to 15 on a Filzen layin with 8:15 remaining, but Milwaukee did not go away. A pair of free throws from McCallum brought UWM to within 67-57 and then a three from McCallum made it 69-60 with 5:50 left.

Mulkey then struck with what might have been the back-breaker, and he buried a contested three from the corner to make it 72-60 with under five minutes left. Milwaukee did get back to within 72-62 on a pair of free throws by Williams with 3:10 left, but the Panthers never got any closer.

UWM returns to the road to close out Horizon .League play this week. The Panthers play at Cleveland State Thursday before heading to Youngstown State Saturday.