Milwaukee at Youngstown State Game Notes (pdf)

MILWAUKEE (13-16, 8-7) at YOUNGSTOWN STATE (11-19, 2-13)
FEBRUARY 28, 2015 – 7 P.M. ET
BEEGHLY CENTER – YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO
ESPN3
WISN (AM 1130)
 
THE OPENING TIP
• One of the hottest teams in the Horizon League, Milwaukee closes out the 2014-15 season by paying a visit to Youngstown State Saturday night. The Panthers have won three straight games, six of their last eight and eight of their last 12 outings. Milwaukee has surpassed its Horizon League win total from a season ago (7) when it wound up winning the Horizon League Championship crown.
 
• The Panthers have snapped out of a shooting funk to knock down shots at an impressive clip from the perimeter. Over the last eight outings, Milwaukee is hitting 42.4 percent (67-for-158) of its three-point field goal attempts after sinking just 23.7 percent (50-for-211) of its triple tries in the previous 10 contests. Milwaukee is 8-4 this season when it knocks down eight or more three-pointers.
 
• Milwaukee has won five of its last six regular-season finales and the last time it wrapped up a campaign by playing at Youngstown State, picked up a 94-87 victory in overtime on February 26, 2011.
 
• During its current three-game winning streak, Milwaukee has gotten the job done at the defensive end of the floor. In the last three outings, the Panthers are allowing just 59.3 points per game and holding opponents to 38.8 percent (66-for-170) shooting from the field. Milwaukee has won its last 12 games when holding opponents to fewer than 60 points.
 
• Strong finishes have become the norm under head coach Rob Jeter. Last season, the Panthers won five of their final six games of the season and Milwaukee also finished with a flourish in 2011-12 (5-2), 2010-11 (10-3), 2009-10 (7-2) and 2005-06 (4-1).
 
• The Panthers had a great semester in the classroom posting a 3.078 team GPA for the Fall 2014 term.
 
ABOUT THE PENGUINS
Youngstown State has dropped six of its last seven contests, including each of its last two outings. The Penguins rank second in the Horizon League with 71.5 points per game, but are last in the conference in scoring defense (74.5 ppg). YSU has come up on the wrong end of the decision in six of its seven Horizon League home games this season, with its lone victory coming versus UIC (77-64) on January 24. Sophomore guard Marcus Keene leads the Penguins with 15.5 ppg , while junior forward Bobby Hain contributes 14.5 ppg and a team-best 7.4 rpg.
 
SERIES STUFF
Saturday's regular-season finale will be the 37th meeting between Milwaukee and Youngstown State and the Panthers own a 25-11 lead in the all-time series, although the Penguins have claimed five of the last seven meetings between the teams. When the teams met in Milwaukee last month, the Panthers shot a sizzling 62 percent from the field and used a 23-5 run early in the first half to take control of the game en route to a 77-62 victory. Four Panthers scored in double figures led by Akeem Springs with 18 points. Steve McWhorter added 16 points and a career-best 12 assists. When the teams last met in Youngstown, on February 20, 2014, the Penguins received 35 points from Kendrick Perry, to offset a 28-point night from Milwaukee's Austin Arians, en route to an 88-83 victory in overtime.
 
SPRINGS FEVER
Fully recovered from a broken hand that hampered his shooting for the better part of the first month of the 2014-15 season, Akeem Springs has been a force at both ends of the floor and in Milwaukee's last eight outings is accounting for 14.0 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 2.9 apg and 1.0 spg, while shooting 46.6 percent (41-for-88) from the field. The 6-foot-4 guard, who transferred from Northern Illinois, has scored in double figures in 10 of the last 14 contests and recorded his first-ever double-double (13 points, 10 rebounds) against Oakland on February 10. He is contributing 11.6 ppg and shooting 46.1 percent (77-for-167) from the field in the Panthers' last 19 outings after managing just 6.0 ppg on 24.6 percent (17-for-69) shooting from the field in his previous eight appearances. Springs has buried 50 of his last 69 (.724) tries from the charity stripe after opening the year by hitting 9 of his first 17 (.529) foul shots and in the last three road games is pitching in 14.0 ppg, 3.7 rpg and 2.0 apg, while shooting 46.7 percent (14-for-30) from the field and 42.9 percent (3-for-7) from beyond the arc. He is contributing 11.6 ppg and 5.9 rpg in Milwaukee's wins and in the last three games is notching 13.3 ppg, 5.0 rpg and shooting a healthy 53.5 percent (15-for-28) from the field. Springs, who recorded 18 points and three boards versus Youngstown State last month, owns a 2.85 assist-to-turnover ratio (20-7) in the last seven contests.
 
McWHORTER NAMED PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Steve McWhorter was named Horizon League Player of the Week on Monday after putting up 17.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 6.5 apg, 1.5 spg and 1.0 bpg, and shooting 50 percent (12-for-24) from the field to lead Milwaukee to a pair of victories last week. This marks the second time in the senior guard's career that he has been so honored and he also was the last Panther to claim the award, doing so on November 18, 2013. McWhorter matched a career high with 21 points and added six boards and four assists in a 71-60 victory at UIC on February 19, then just missed out on recording his fourth double-double of the season, on Senior Day no less, by tallying 13 points, nine assists, four rebounds, two blocks and a pair of steals in a 66-60 win against Cleveland State on February 22.
 
TIBY TIDBITS
The Panthers' emotional leader, Matt Tiby has been consistently producing great numbers since early December. Over the last 20 outings, the 6-foot-8 forward is pitching in 15.3 ppg, 8.5 rpg and 1.9 apg after managing 7.8 ppg, 6.0 rpg and 1.9 apg through the first nine contests. A 2015 Preseason Second Team All-Horizon League selection, the Urbandale, Iowa native ranks second in the conference with 7.7 rpg and sits third in League contests only with 8.5 rpg. Tiby is one of four players to rank among the top 10 in the League in both scoring and rebounding in conference play. Tiby is averaging 13.0 ppg and 7.7 rpg through 29 games this season and has scored in double figures 23 times, including in each of the last 20 outings. With a career-high-tying 22 points and 12 boards at Green Bay on February 5, he registered his seventh double-double of the season, surpassing his total from a year ago (6), and Milwaukee is now 9-4 in his career when he totals 10 or more points and rebounds. The seven double-doubles are the most by a Panther in a single season since Adrian Tigert had nine in 2005-06. In League action this season, he is putting up 15.3 ppg and 8.5 rpg. Tiby, who had 13 points and 12 boards against Youngstown State last month, is averaging 9.7 ppg and 6.7 rpg against the Penguins in his career. He has scored in double figures in 10 consecutive road games, averaging 16.7 ppg and 8.3 rpg during that stretch. His current streak of 20 straight games with double-digit points is the longest by a Panther since Joah Tucker in 2005-06 (27 games). Tiby has knocked down 11 of his last 22 three-point attempts (.500) after making just 1 of his previous 20 (.050). After connecting on only 33.7 percent (28-for-83) of his field goal tries over the previous seven outings, Tiby hit 7 of 9 shots, including all four of his triple tries, at Wright State Thursday night, en route to a career-high 24 points. His 24-point effort is the best by a Panther this season and is the most since Jordan Aaron hung 28 points on Valparaiso on March 11, 2014.
 
STEVIE WONDERFUL
Redshirt senior Steve McWhorter has saved his best season for his last. After averaging 7.8 ppg last season, the Racine, Wis., native leads the Panthers with 14.1 ppg in 2014-15.  McWhorter, who matched a career high with 21 points to go with six rebounds, three assists and a steal at UIC on February 19, has scored in double digits on 37 occasions in his UWM career and the Panthers are 23-14 in those contests. A starter in all 64 of his appearances as a Panther, McWhorter has a 2.44 assist-to-turnover ratio (44-18) over the last seven contests. He has scored in double digits in 24 of the last 28 outings. A winner in every sense of the word, in three previous 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 15.6 ppg, 5.4 rpg and 5.1 apg in Milwaukee's wins this year and in three career meetings with Youngstown State is putting up 13.0 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 8.0 rpg, 2.3 spg and shooting 44 percent (11-for-25) from the field, 46.2 percent (6-for-13) from three-point land and 1.000 (11-for-11) from the charity stripe. Milwaukee is 1-4 this season when he has failed to score at least 10 points this season. In a January 14 victory over Youngstown State, he recorded his third double-double of the season by collecting 16 points and a career-high 12 assists with only one turnover. His 12 helpers are the most by a Panther since Kaylon Williams dished out a dozen assists at Western Michigan on January 3, 2012. McWhorter has played all 40 minutes in six of the last 14 contests and over the last three road games is tallying 10.3 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 5.3 apg and 1.3 spg, but is shooting just 26.3 percent (10-for-38) from the field and 16.7 percent (2-for-12) from long distance. His six steals versus Detroit on January 31 are the most by a Panther since Larry Treadwell had a half dozen thefts against Butler on February 9, 1998. McWhorter is putting up 14.8 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 6.4 apg and 2.4 spg, while connecting on 44.1 percent (26-for-59) of his field goal attempts and 38.5 percent (5-for-13) of his three-point tries in the last five contests.
 
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. Over the last eight outings, Wichmann is putting up 7.1 ppg and shooting 48.6 percent from the field (18-for-37) and 52 percent (13-for-25) from three-point territory. In his previous three games, Wichmann mustered 1.7 ppg on just 11.1 percent (1-for-9) shooting from the field and downtown. The 6-foot-5 guard is shooting 40 percent (46-for-115) from beyond the arc and scored a career-best 15-points against Youngstown State on January 14.  Five of his seven double-digit-scoring performances this season have come at Panther Arena, where he is shooting 53.7 percent (36-for-67) from the field and 53.8 percent (28-for-52) from three-point land. In his career, Milwaukee is 8-2 when he scores in double digits. His marksmanship has helped the Panthers to victory this season as he is contributing 7.4 ppg and knocking down 50 percent (32-for-64) of his field-goal tries and 52.1 percent (25-for-48) 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. Dating back to last season, the Pulaski, Wis., native has connected on 16 of his last 19 (.842) attempts from the foul line.
 
 
PANTHERS GET CHARITABLE
After a slow start, Milwaukee has reversed its fortunes at the foul line, shooting a healthy 74.9 percent (376-for-502) over the last 26 contests. Through the first three games of 2014-15, the Panthers knocked down just 55.4 percent (36-for-65) of their charity throws. At 72.7 percent, Milwaukee ranks second in the Horizon League and 35th in the nation in free throw percentage through games of February 26.
 
PANOSKE PRODUCES
J.J. Panoske may have had his streak of consecutive games with double-digit points come to an end at three at Wright State Thursday night, but he more than made up for it by hitting a game-winning three-pointer with three seconds remaining to lift Milwaukee to a 61-58 victory. Over the last four games, the 6-foot-10 junior forward is putting up 12.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 0.8 apg, 2.3 bpg, 0.8 spg and shooting 51.3 percent (19-for-37) from the field and 55.6 percent (10-for-18) from three-point territory. In the previous five games, Panoske managed 3.2 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 0.4 apg, 0.4 bpg, 0.4 spg and knocked down 26.1 percent (6-for-23) from the field and 16.7 percent (1-for-6) from long distance. Milwaukee's career blocks leader with 98 rejections, Panoske totaled a career-high, 19 points, which included five three-point field goals, versus Cleveland State on Sunday. He has converted 30 of his last 34 (.882) overall attempts from the foul line, including 12 of the last 13 (.923) on the road. Panoske has shot lights from beyond the arc recently, hitting 11 of his last 20 (.550) shots after sinking just 3 of his previous 24 (.125) from three-point land. Milwaukee is 4-1 this season when he knocks down two or more triples and in the Panthers' last two road games Panoske is contributing 10.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg and 2.5 bpg.  In two career games against Youngstown State at the Beeghly Center, he is producing 13.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 1.0 apg, 1.5 bpg and is shooting a whopping 76.9 percent (10-for-13) from the field. As a freshman in 2012-13 he put up 15.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 1.0 apg and 1.5 bpg against the Penguins.
 
K.C. MASTERPIECE
Kansas City, Mo., native J.R. Lyle has returned to action after being sidelined with a foot injury earlier this season. The junior guard, who totaled 15 points, three assists and four steals at Youngstown State last season, is posting 6.3 ppg over the last six contests, but is shooting 55 percent (11-for-20) from the field and 58.3 percent (7-for-12) from three-point range over that stretch.
 
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.