Feb. 1, 2013

Box Score

VALPARAISO, Ind. - Ben Boggs and Will Bogan scored 12 points apiece as first-place Valparaiso cruised to a 71-40 win over the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Friday night at the Athletics-Recreation Center.

The Crusaders (17-6, 7-2 Horizon) used a 23-3 run over the final six minutes of the first half and the first three minutes of the second half to take control of the game.

Jordan Aaron scored 17 points to lead Milwaukee (5-18, 1-8), which shot just 27.3 percent from the field and committed 16 turnovers.

Meanwhile, Valparaiso shot 56.3 percent from the field and made 11 three-pointers. The Crusaders have made 23 three-pointers in their two wins over the Panthers this season.

Valparaiso steadily built its lead over the first 20 minutes of play. Milwaukee had an early 5-4 lead on a three by Aaron but the Crusaders pushed their edge to 16-10 on a three by Bogan and to 19-10 on a three by LaVonte Dority 30 seconds later.

Aaron pulled the Panthers within 23-16 on a three-pointer with 6:50 remaining and Milwaukee was still within 25-18 following a hook shot by J.J. Panoske with just under six minutes left. But Valpo finished the half with a big surge, as the Crusaders finished with 12 of the final 15 points of the half to lead 37-21 at the break.

The Crusaders then eliminated any remaining doubt in the outcome during the first four minutes of the second half. Valpo scored the first 11 points out of the locker room, with a Ryan Broekhoff three capping the burst to make it 48-21 with 16:55 remaining.

From there, the Crusaders led by as many as 36 points as both teams made liberal use of their benches.

Milwaukee now returns home for three-straight games, starting Thursday night when Detroit visits the Klotsche Center for a 7 p.m. contest.