Feb. 26, 2011

Box Score |  Postgame Extra
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YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - Nothing came easy during the 2010-11 regular season for the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men's basketball team, so there was no expectation Saturday's Horizon League title-clinching contest at Youngstown State would be any different.

But, just as they did for the previous eight league contests, the Panthers stuck together and came through when it mattered most.

Anthony Hill and Ja'Rob McCallum scored 23 points apiece and a McCallum three put UWM ahead for good in overtime as the Panthers claimed a 94-87 overtime win in Youngstown.

Milwaukee not only captured a share of the league crown with Butler and Cleveland State but clinched the top seed and hosting rights for the league tournament thanks to its regular-season sweep of the Bulldogs. UWM will not play again until a semifinal matchup Saturday at 7:30 p.m. at the U.S. Cellular Arena against an opponent to be determined.

After YSU missed a pair of shots that would have won the game at the end of regulation, McCallum's three came on Milwaukee's first possession of overtime and the Panthers never really looked back. Kaylon Williams buried a three with under two minutes remaining to push UWM's lead to six and the Panthers hit just enough free throws down the stretch to hang on for the win.

The regular season league crown is UWM's fourth in the Horizon League and second under Rob Jeter, who won his 100th career game Saturday.

Milwaukee's nine-game league winning streak turned a 4-5 mark into a 13-5 final record, with the Panthers climbing from seventh to first over the final month of the season. Along the way, UWM swept through the second half of the league schedule, winning four times at home and five times on the road.

"We've really worked hard. It wasn't that we were on the front-end of this. We were trying to get there every step of the way," Jeter said. "I'm very proud of this team. These guys have been resilient. Before we put together nine in a row in the league, we were just trying to see if we could get to .500. I'm just really proud that this group put it together and every piece that we had contributed to help us win this championship."

"You just think about the ups and downs through the year," Williams said. "Nine games ago we didn't know what we were going to do. Coach Jeter just told us to keep fighting. I'm so proud of the guys - we stuck together and got it done."

McCallum picked a great time to have his best game of the season, as his 23 points and seven 3-pointers set new collegiate highs. He said the Panthers focus on winning the league this summer kept them on track even through the tougher times.

"It shows you were everyone's head is at. Everybody's focused and we had goals we set at the beginning of the year. We wanted to have a phenomenal season," McCallum said. "Guys just having that mindset and that mentality coming into the season, even though we started off a little shaky, that being in the back of our minds helped us to stay together, fight and accomplish this."

As has been the case lately, the Panthers had plenty of additional contributors. Tony Meier scored 18 points after his 28-point outing at Cleveland State Thursday, while Tone Boyle added 16 points. Plus, Williams had 11 points, nine rebounds and seven assists in yet another stellar all-around game.

Meanwhile, Youngstown State pushed a Horizon League contender to the limits once again. The Penguins (9-20, 2-16) beat Butler earlier this season and lost to Valparaiso in overtime. On this day, thanks to 26 points from Blake Allen, YSU nearly ruined Milwaukee's day.

"I was nervous because Youngstown is a great team, especially at home" Hill said. "Every time we hit a three, they hit a three. Every time we got a stop, they came back with an answer. It was overwhelming to see that, but we pulled through and I'm just so proud of everybody for winning these games."

The Panthers played from behind much of the first 20 minutes, trailing by as many as five points as Meier and Williams spent extended spells on the bench in foul trouble. But, three-straight three-pointers by McCallum put UWM up 39-36 with two minutes to play and the half ended at 41 apiece.

Milwaukee again fell behind by four points early in the second half but reclaimed a 60-56 lead on a Meier follow-up basket with 11:57 remaining. UWM eventually led by as many as five points but YSU bounced back to grab a 78-77 lead on a Damian Eargle basket with 1:41 remaining. The teams traded the lead from there before a single free throw by Boyle evened the game late in regulation. YSU then missed two inside shots in the closing seconds, including a try by Eargle that rolled around and off at the horn, sending the game into overtime.

"Coming down the stretch they're matching us point-for-point," Jeter said. "We're trying to get some separation but every time we started to get some separation they would hit a big three. But to have the poise to get together and get the last stop - we didn't have a chance to win, we had to get the stop because we missed the free throw. It's only fitting that we would go into overtime to get this done."

The Panthers controlled the extra session, with a McCallum three giving Milwaukee the lead on its first possession. UWM was still up 85-82 with two minutes remaining as both teams went quiet on offense. But, Williams nailed a three from the wing on the next possession to push the advantage up to six and Milwaukee added six free throws to seal the win and a conference title.

"Being a leader, being a senior, this is the best feeling," Hill said. "What more can you ask for, except getting to the NCAA Tournament?"

"It's very satisfying, because those are like my sons there," Jeter said. "To see these guys fight, be disappointed, be down, and then to see the elation of success and see the guys proud and picking each other up, that's satisfying. We're trying to get these guys to grow up to be men and they grew up again tonight. They grew up this entire month, and for them to do it together is special."