Milwaukee at SIU Edwardsville Game Notes (pdf) 

MILWAUKEE (5-6) at SIU EDWARDSVILLE (1-7)
DECEMBER 20, 2014 – 6:30 P.M.
EDWARDSVILLE, ILL. – VADALABENE CENTER
FOX Sports Midwest – WISN (1130 AM)
 
THE OPENING TIP
• Milwaukee opens up a five-game road trip when it travels to SIU Edwardsville Saturday night. The Panthers, who won 10 true road games in 2013-14, are still in search of their first true road win this season.
 
• The Panthers have not played five consecutive games on an opponent's home court (not counting neutral sites) since the 1991-92 campaign.
 
• Defense has keyed the Panthers' wins this season as they are surrendering only 55.8 ppg and limiting opponents to just 37 percent (103-for-279) from the field. In defeats, those figures jump to 80.0 ppg, and 50 percent (161-for-320) from the field.
 
• Milwaukee is coming off of a 73-58 victory over Montana on December 14. The 73 points are the most scored by UWM since a 75-54 victory against Minnesota-Crookston on November 17 in the second game of the season.
 
• Guard Steve McWhorter is having an incredible senior season and through games of December 16 was the only player to rank in the top nine in the Horizon League in scoring (15.2 ppg), rebounding (6.0 rpg) and assists (3.3 apg). The 6-foot-2 fifth-year senior is trying to become the first Panther since Clay Tucker in 2001-02 (17.6 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 3.0 apg) to lead the team in scoring, rebounding and assists.
 
• Milwaukee has prevailed the last 10 times it has held an opponent to fewer than 60 points, with the last loss coming at Wright State (53-51) on January 5, 2013. The Panthers have limited opponents to fewer than 60 points in each of their five wins this season.
 
ABOUT THE COUGARS
Since winning the season opener versus Harris Stowe, SIU Edwardsville has fallen on hard times, dropping seven consecutive contests, including a 70-65 setback at Campbell on December 17. Senior guard Kris Davis leads the Cougars with 16.5 ppg, and junior guard Donivine Stewart pitches in 12.9 ppg. Saturday's game will be just the second at the Vadalabene Center for SIUE since Nov. 18. The Cougars are 1-2 at home this season.
 
SERIES STUFF
Milwaukee and SIU Edwardsville are meeting for the 13th time in a series that traces its roots back to the 1970-71 season. The Panthers, who hold an 8-4 advantage in the series, have won the last two meetings between the teams, but have won just one of their last four contests played in Edwardsville, Ill., that being an 83-73 decision the last time the teams met, on January 5, 2010. In that game, Ricky Franklin totaled 20 points, seven rebounds and six assists to spark the Panthers to the win. Milwaukee is 19-27 (.413) all-time against current members of the Ohio Valley Conference.
 
SPRINGS FEVER
Akeem Springs has been hampered by a hand injury that has impacted his play for the better part of the last month. However, the transfer from Northern Illinois University appears to have turned the corner with his performance in the Panthers' victory against Montana last Sunday. Springs came off the bench to register 14 points, on 4 of 7 shooting, in only 20 minutes of action, for his best output since dazzling with 21 points in the season opener at Auburn. In three true road tilts this season, the 6-foot-4 sophomore guard has put up 9.3 ppg, 4.7 rpg and 1.7 apg. He is contributing 8.0 ppg and shooting 40 percent (4-for-10) from the field and 67 percent (2-for-3) from three-point range in the last pair of outings after managing just 1.3 ppg on 6 percent (1-for-16) shooting from the field in his previous three appearances.
 
FROM THE HARDWOOD TO THE GRIDIRON
Former Milwaukee forward Demetrius Harris has joined the likes of former college basketball players Antonio Gates and Jimmy Graham and made a career as a tight end in the National Football League. The 6-foot-7 Harris, who starred at UWM for two seasons (2011-13), was a member of the Kansas City Chiefs' practice squad last year before earning a spot on the active roster this season. Before breaking his foot in pregame warm-ups on November 9, he had appeared in eight games this year and caught three passes for 20 yards. Harris averaged 9.1 points and 5.3 rebounds per game at Milwaukee in 2012-13 and is the first Panther to play in the NFL since 1983.
 
THE D IS KEY
The Panthers will need to be a better defensive team on the road if they hope to achieve their goal of winning the Horizon League regular-season championship. En route to 10 true road wins last season, Milwaukee held opponents to 71.5 ppg on the road and held them in check to the tune of 43 percent (392-for-903) shooting from the field and 29 percent (84-for-287) from three-point territory. However, in three true road games in 2014-15, opponents have put up 82.7 ppg and connected on 50 percent (76-for-153) of their shots from the field, including 48 percent (24-for-50) from beyond the arc.
 
TIBY TIME
The Panthers' emotional leader, Matt Tiby appears to be back on track after a bit of a slow start. Over the last four outings, the 6-foot-8 forward is pitching in 12.3 ppg, 9.0 rpg, 3.0 apg and shooting 42 percent (15-for-36) from the field after managing 7.3 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 1.6 apg and 34 percent (14-for-40) through the first seven contests. A 2015 Preseason Second Team All-Horizon League selection, the Urbandale, Iowa native recorded six double-doubles a year ago and scored in double figures on 24 occasions, five times topping the 20-point mark. Last month, Tiby was named to the Lou Henson Award Watch List. The award is presented annually to the NCAA Division I Mid-Major Player of the Year and Tiby is one of three Horizon League players - Keifer Sykes (Green Bay) and Tyler Lewis (Cleveland State) are the others - on the watch list. Tiby is averaging 9.1 ppg and and 6.3 rpg through 11 games this season and has scored in double figures five times. He has scored in double digits in back-to-back games for the first time this season and is contributing 15.0 ppg, 7.5 rpg and 3.0 apg in the last pair of outings. In nine career December games Tiby is chipping in 13.2 ppg, 7.3 rpg and 2.4 apg. With 13 points and 10 boards versus Montana on December 14, he registered his second double-double of the season and Milwaukee is now 7-1 in his career when he totals 10 or more points and rebounds. Tiby, who scored a season-high 17 points and pulled down five rebounds versus No. 5 Wisconsin on December 10, has hit 5 of his last 6 (.833) three-point attempts after opening the year 6-for-24 (.250).
 
STEVIE WONDERFUL
Redshirt senior Steve McWhorter is having an outstanding start to the 2014-15 campaign. McWhorter has scored in double digits on 22 occasions in his UWM career and the Panthers are 16-6 in those contests. A starter in all 45 of his appearances as a Panther, McWhorter is putting up 16.1 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 3.5 apg and 1.6 spg, while shooting 52 percent (58-for-112) from the field and 37 percent (17-for-46) from three-point range in the last 10 games. He has hit at least one three-pointer in each of the last 10 games and had a string of eight straight games with 10 or more points snapped by Wisconsin (6 points). A winner in every sense of the word, in three seasons on active rosters at both Indiana State and Milwaukee, McWhorter has helped his team reach the postseason on three occasions (2 NCAA, 1 CIT). He is accounting for 16.8 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 2.8 apg and 1.6 spg in Milwaukee's wins this year and in his last four appearances away from home is tallying 17.5 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 4.5 apg, 2.3 spg and shooting a robust 54 percent (27-for-50) from the field. Milwaukee is 0-2 this season when he has failed to score at least 10 points.
 
CODY CONTRIBUTES
With Austin Arians on the sidelines as a redshirt this season, sophomore Cody Wichmann has shouldered more of a load and has responded in fine fashion after logging only 6.8 minutes and 2.4 ppg a year ago. The 6-foot-5 guard has knocked down at least one three-point field goal in all 11 games this year and is shooting 45 percent (21-for-47) from beyond the arc. Wichmann, who did not commit a turnover in the first four games of the season and has coughed the ball up just four times in 255 minutes of action, has hit 16 of his last 34 (.471) three-point attempts, and in his career Milwaukee is 6-0 when he scores in double digits. His play has helped Milwaukee to victory this season as he is contributing 8.6 ppg and knocking down 48 percent (14-for-29) of his field-goal tries and 50 percent (11-for-22) of his three-point attempts in UWM's wins. In a November 29 victory versus Concordia-St. Paul, he registered his first career double-double with 13 points and 11 boards. He came into that game with just 13 rebounds this season. Wichmann has scored 10 or more points in three of the Panthers' six home games this season.
 
K.C. MASTERPIECE
Kansas City, Mo., native J.R. Lyle has shown an ability to score in bunches this season. The 6-foot-2 guard has scored in double digits on four occasions and is coming off of a 16-point performance in the Panthers' win versus Montana on December 14. That effort was his best since a season-high 19-point output against IUPUI on November 19. The junior has rebounded from a brief slump to record 10.8 ppg on 44 percent (15-for-34) shooting in the last four contests after producing just 4.0 ppg on 21 percent (3-for-14) accuracy in his previous three outings. Lyle, who is averaging 10.7 ppg, 1.3 rpg, 1.0 apg and 1.7 spg, while shooting 50 percent (13-for-26) from the field in three true road games this season, is accounting for 10.2 ppg, 2.0 rpg and 1.3 apg in his last 12 starting assignments dating back to last season.
 
SITTING THIS ONE OUT
Four Panthers will sit out the 2014-15 season - freshmen Derek Rongstad and Brock Stull, sophomore Scotty Tyler, who is a transfer from Idaho State University, and junior Austin Arians, who averaged 11.1 ppg and shot a team-best 37 percent (65-for-177) from three-point range a year ago.
 
ON THE PRAHL
Redshirt freshman Brett Prahl is starting to come into his own and has been a key contributor off the bench, averaging 5.7 ppg and 4.0 rpg, while connecting on 73 percent (8-for-11) of his field goal attempts in three true road games. After producing 2.7 ppg and 1.9 rpg in seven games in November, Prahl, who totaled a season-high eight points against Wisconsin, is springing for 4.5 ppg and 1.8 rpg in December. He has been impressive against the best competition, averaging 6.0 ppg, 4.7 rpg and shooting an amazing 89 percent (8-for-9) from the field against power conference foes.
 
JORDAN RULES
Freshman guard Justin Jordan brings some interesting bloodlines to the Milwaukee program. The Davidson, N.C., native is the son of Larry Jordan and the nephew of former NBA great, six-time NBA champion, Hall of Famer and current Charlotte Hornets owner Michael Jordan. In the season opener at Auburn, Justin showed the poise of a veteran, totaling 11 points, three rebounds and three assists off the bench to become the first Panther true freshman since Tony Meier in 2008 to score 10 or more points in a season opener. That effort earned him Horizon League Freshman of the Week honors. Jordan, who has committed only three turnovers in his last six appearances, has drained 7 of his last 14 (.500) attempts from three-point territory. Milwaukee is 3-1 this season when he scores seven or more points and in five games away from home, Jordan is producing 6.2 ppg and shooting 57 percent (12-for-21) from the field and 71 percent (5-for-7) from long distance.
 
PANOSKE PRODUCES
Forward J.J. Panoske has had a productive first month of the 2014-15 season and carries averages of 7.0 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 1.0 apg and 1.0 bpg into Saturday's game at SIU Edwardsville. The 6-foot-10 junior, who has started all 11 games this year, has scored in double figures on three occasions and Milwaukee is 2-1 in those contests. A native of Broadhead, Wis., Panoske is pitching in 9.5 ppg and 4.5 rpg over the last pair of outings and has knocked down 10 of his last 12 (.833) attempts from the foul line. He totaled 10 points in Sunday's win over Montana and in three games versus power conference foes this season is tallying 9.0 ppg.
 
HOW SWEET IT WAS
The 2014-15 season marks the 10-year anniversary of Milwaukee's magical run to the NCAA Sweet 16. Led by the play of Ed McCants, Joah Tucker and Adrian Tigert, the Panthers knocked off Alabama and Boston College in the NCAA Tournament before falling to eventual national runner-up Illinois. Two members of Rob Jeter's current staff - Chris Hill and Allan Hanson - were on that Sweet 16 squad. Milwaukee finished the year with a 26-6 overall record and a No. 23 ranking in the final ESPN/USA Today Top 25 Poll.