Boxscore (pdf) 

LAS VEGAS (November 24, 2014) – Steve McWhorter posted his first career double-double, going for 18 points and a career-high-tying 10 rebounds, to help the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (2-3) to a 56-52 victory over Louisiana (1-3) tonight at the MGM Grand Main Event. The Panthers held the Ragin' Cajuns to 33 percent shooting on the night, forced 16 turnovers, and were able to overcome a rough second half of their own in which they hit just 32 percent of their shots.
 
Both teams struggled out of the gate, but Milwaukee used a 13-2 run to open up a 15-7 lead in first half. Buoyed by the play of McWhorter, who scored 11 of the team's 24 first-half points, the Panthers defense stifled the Ragin' Cajuns in the opening stanza, limiting them to just 6 of 26 shooting, while forcing nine turnovers.
 
Trinson White's jumper from the left baseline gave the Panthers a 21-10 lead with 4:27 remaining, their largest advantage of the half, and UWM took a 24-14 lead into the locker room at the break.
 
McWhorter hit a pair of free throws to open the second-half scoring as the Panthers extended their lead to 26-14, but over the next 11 and a half minutes, the Ragin' Cajuns outscored Milwaukee, 30-12, to take a 44-38 lead with 7:08 remaining.
 
Undeterred, the Panthers immediately responded with a 9-1 surge of their own that was capped by a J.J. Panoske layup that gave them a 47-45 advantage.
 
A layup by Bryce Washington with 1:24 left to go put Louisiana on top, 51-50, and on the next possession McWhorter had a chance to put the Panthers ahead after getting fouled with 57 seconds on the clock. The normally automatic senior missed both tosses, but after Louisiana corralled the rebound, McWhorter came up with a big steal and found Matt Tiby for an easy layup with 43 seconds remaining to give Milwaukee a 52-51 lead it would never surrender.
 
"I had to move on to the next play. I've got to make those free throws, but I knew I had to make the next play to help the team win," McWhorter said. "This was a huge win for us. We've lost a couple of close games that we feel we could have gotten and this is a win that can give us some momentum going forward."
 
The Panthers iced the game by going 4-for-4 from the foul line with Justin Jordan and Tiby each draining a pair of free throws in the final 13 seconds.
 
In addition to his 18 points, which is one short of his career high, and 10 boards, McWhorter also pitched in four assists and four steals. Tiby contributed eight points, eight boards and three blocks and White had his best game as a Panther, coming off the bench to produce nine points and five rebounds.
 
Brian Williams and Xavian Rimmer scored 12 points each for Louisiana.
 
Milwaukee closes out play at the MGM Grand Main Event Wednesday afternoon when it takes on Oral Roberts at 3 p.m. Central.