Jan. 26, 2012

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MILWAUKEE - James Haarsma had 12 points, Kaylon Williams added 11 assists and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee limited Butler to just seven field goals over the final 28 minutes of the game on its way to a 53-42 win over Butler Thursday night at the U.S. Cellular Arena.

The Panthers (14-8, 7-3 Horizon) recovered from an early eight-point deficit to record their 10th win in 11 tries at home and move to within a half-game of Cleveland State for the top spot in the Horizon League.

Milwaukee actually allowed Butler to score just 21 points over those final 28 minutes, with the Panthers outscoring the Bulldogs, 29-17, in the second half alone.

For the game, UWM limited Butler to just 28.1 percent shooting and only 1-of-16 from beyond the three-point arc.

Ryan Allen added 11 points, seven rebounds and three blocks, while Tony Meier marked his return to the starting lineup with seven points and eight rebounds. Paris Gulley had nine points and Kyle Kelm seven points, nine boards and two blocks as Milwaukee's core all contributed.

Andrew Smith led Butler (12-10, 6-4) with 11 points.

"That was a very hard-fought contest," UWM head coach Rob Jeter said. "To hold a team to 17 in the second half was pretty special. I thought our guys held their composure after a few things didn't go their way in the first half. We knew we just needed to be tough and needed to have a high level of concentration. We battled and I am very proud of our young men."

The Panthers trailed 21-13 with eight minutes left in the first half but found their stride from there. Milwaukee used a 24-5 run over the next 13 minutes to stake its claim in the contest.

"We were kind of disappointed with how we had played in the first half but we were still down only one point (25-24 at the half)," Williams said. "With these teams, we know each other in and out so it is just about competing and who is going to be more physical. I think we established that getting James a few more baskets early on."

As it has in a number of wins this season, Milwaukee's defense led the way. It was a nice bounce back from a loss at Cleveland State in which the Vikings shot better than 63 percent from the field.

"Our defense has been falling off here of late," Williams said. "We were the top defensive team before the last couple of weeks and we just want to get back to being a defensive team because obviously we're not making too many shots."

"Defense takes a team effort, and it says more about a team than anything," Jeter said. "That's been our focus, trying to have this team guard five guys. The defense keeps in our theme that we need to be together. Tonight we were together."

The Panthers played from behind the entire first half. Butler jumped out to a 10-5 lead in the first five minutes and eventually extended the lead to 21-13 with just under eight minutes to play. Milwaukee's defense then stepped up from there, limiting the Bulldogs to just four points the rest of the way. UWM steadily got itself going on offense, with three-point plays from Kelm and Allen bringing the Panthers within one at 21-20. Milwaukee then went into the half down 25-24.

UWM started the second half where it left off, with six early points from Haarsma putting Milwaukee up 32-25 with 16 minutes to play. Eventually, a three from Meier expanded the edge to double figures at 37-26. Butler did crawl all the way to within three points at 41-38, but the Panthers ended the game on a 12-4 run.

The Panthers don't have to wait long to get back in action, as Valparaiso visits the U.S. Cellular Arena Saturday afternoon at 1.