Feb. 15, 2014

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MILWAUKEE - The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee shot just 31.7 percent from the field and made only 3-of-29 from three-point range in falling, 77-62, to Valparaiso Saturday night at the U.S. Cellular Arena.

The Panthers missed their first 11 three-point tries and 15 of their first 17 shots overall, digging a hole they could never totally get out of.

Kyle Kelm had 24 points to lead Milwaukee (16-10, 6-6 Horizon), while Matt Tiby added 14 points and eight boards. But the other nine Panthers that got in the game made just 9-of-43 shots from the field and combined for just 24 points.

Milwaukee played without leading scorer Jordan Aaron, who did not dress for the game because of a violation of team rules.

LaVonte Dority scored 19 points while Jordan Coleman added 14 points and 11 rebounds to lead Valparaiso (16-11, 8-4), which is now a half-game behind Cleveland State for second place in the league standings.

"I thought every mistake we made Valpo capitalized on. It was a lesson for us," Milwaukee head coach Rob Jeter said. "We just have to make sure we continue to move forward. We've made it difficult on ourselves all season, but there are games to be played, a lot of them to be played, and now we just have to figure out a way to once again shake it off, go on the road, and play better basketball.

"All I've done is ask the team to play better basketball each time out. Clearly that wasn't better basketball than the last time we played."

The first 20 minutes was a struggle for Milwaukee. The Panthers did score the first four points of the game but Valparaiso responded with a 13-2 run and never gave the lead back. The Crusader advantage hit 16-8 on a Keith Carter three and was 21-11 when Alec Peters scored inside.

Milwaukee did close to within 23-17 on a three by Austin Arians, but Valparaiso restored an 11-point lead when Coleman knocked home a three from the corner. The Panthers got within 32-26 on a pair of Kelm free throws and headed into the locker room down 34-26.

UWM rallied to start the second half, pulling within 36-32 on an inside basket from Kelm and then to within 45-43 when Malcolm Moore knocked down a three-pointer. But the Crusaders answered that surge with eight points in a row to rebuild a double-digit advantage. The lead hit 60-49 on a Coleman layin with 6:35 left and Milwaukee could never get closer than six points after that.

The Panthers now play three of their final four games away from home, starting Thursday night with a game at Youngstown State.