Postgame Comments

MILWAUKEE (November 6, 2014) – Host University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee used a 20-3 run early in the second half to take control of the game and cruise to a 68-54 victory over UW-Platteville tonight in an exhibition game at UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena. Three Panthers scored in double figures on the night and the team limited the Pioneers to 29.3 percent shooting.
 
"We had a lot of new contributors out there tonight," Milwaukee Head Coach Rob Jeter said. "To physically wear them down like that in the second 20 minutes was a positive sign. We were able to play our style."
 
Milwaukee made use of a 9-2 spurt midway through the first half to turn a one-possession game into a 19-10 lead. Platteville finished the half strong however and a 9-0 run of its own, capped by a layup by Jim Stocki, evened the score at 25 before Matt Tiby drained a pair of late free throws to give Milwaukee a 27-25 lead at the break.
 
A three-pointer from Stocki and a jumper by Jake Manning to open the second half gave Platteville a 30-27 lead, its largest of the night, barely a minute into the period. However, three straight points by Akeem Springs ignited the game-changing 20-3 run, which featured a combined 16 points from Springs and fellow guard Steve McWhorter over a 7:45 stretch.
 
From there, the Pioneers would get no closer than nine points at 49-40 and the Milwaukee defense tightened even further in the second half, limiting Platteville to just 7-for-27  (.293) shooting from the field. Meanwhile, the Panthers were able to wear down Platteville to connect for some easy baskets that resulted in 56 percent (14-for-25) shooting in the second stanza.
 
Springs led the way for Milwaukee, which saw 13 players score at least one point, with 15 points. McWhorter added 14 and Tiby pitched in 10 points, a game-high 13 rebounds, and five assists. Springs and McWhorter tallied 21 of their combined 29 points in the second period.
 
Stocki tallied 14 points to lead Platteville.
 
Milwaukee opens up the 2014-15 season next Friday (Nov. 14) when it visits Auburn for a 9 p.m. Central contest that will be televised live on ESPNU.