Boxscore (pdf)    Postgame Comments

MILWAUKEE (November 29, 2014) – Cody Wichmann posted his first career double-double, producing career highs of 13 points and 11 rebounds off the bench to help the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (3-4) to a 64-59 victory over visiting Concordia-St. Paul (3-2) this afternoon at UWM Panther Arena. Milwaukee has now won its last eight games when holding opponents to fewer than 60 points.
 
"This was a gutsy performance by our team today. We had a lot of guys ill and I knew this was going to be an extra difficult game because we were playing a good team," Milwaukee Head Coach Rob Jeter said. "I'm proud of how the guys played under difficult circumstances. We did enough to get a good win."
 
Concordia-St. Paul, a NCAA Division II team, was hot from long range in the first half and knocked down 5 of 10 shots from beyond the arc in the opening 20 minutes.
 
After Trinson White's jumper put Milwaukee on top 7-4, the Golden Bears drained four straight threes as part of a 14-0 run that gave them an 18-7 advantage. But, the Panthers clawed their way back and Cody Wichmann's layup and three-pointer were part of a 12-4 spurt that brought UWM within 22-19. Concordia-St. Paul built its lead back up to six but another Wichmann three and a pair of free throws from Justin Jordan, sandwiched around a Golden Bears free throw, sent Milwaukee, which shot only 23 percent (6-for-26) in the period, into halftime down by only two, at 26-24.
 
The break seemed to do wonders for the Panthers, who weathered a rough opening 20 minutes while having several players still battling lingering effects of illness. Much like Concordia-St. Paul in the first half, Milwaukee was hot from long range to start the second stanza, hitting its first five attempts from beyond the arc. A pair of triples by J.J. Panoske, who finished with eight points, and another by Steve McWhorter, were part of a half-opening 9-4 run that gave the Panthers a 35-30 lead.
 
Another three from McWhorter put Milwaukee ahead by six (41-35) before the Golden Bears countered with a 9-3 run of their own, capped by a three from James Haley, to tie things up at 44.
 
Milwaukee answered right back as the senior leader McWhorter took over, scoring six of his team's next eight points for a 52-44 lead that was never relinquished.
 
Concordia-St. Paul made things interesting, getting within a basket (57-55) with 2:21 remaining, but the Panthers knocked down seven of eight shots from the foul line in the closing two minutes to hang on for the win to improve to 2-1 at home this season. White was key down the stretch, scoring nine of his season-high 12 points in the game's final 4:35.
 
"Trinson and Cody really helped us today and I'm pleased with how they stepped up," Jeter said.
 
McWhorter scored in double figures for a career-best sixth straight outing, posting a team-high 17 points, while White pitched in seven boards to go with his season-best 12 points.
 
Cole Olstad led Concordia-St. Paul with a game-high 19 points.
 
The Panthers return to action Wednesday night (Dec. 3), when they host UMKC. That game will be televised live locally on Time Warner SportsChannel.