MILWAUKEE - Cody Wichmann netted a career-high 19 points but the Milwaukee men's basketball team could not overcome a slow start in falling to Western Illinois by a final score of 75-59 Saturday afternoon at the Klotsche Center.
The Panthers (4-8) started cold from the floor, while the Leathernecks (3-7) were just the opposite, hitting seven of their first 10 shots from the field in building a big early lead. Milwaukee outscored Western Illinois in the second half, but the margin at intermission proved too much to overcome.
"I liked our effort in the second half, but not in the first," Milwaukee head coach
LaVall Jordan said. "And that has been our calling card with this group – we have had the effort and, for whatever reason in the first half, we couldn't get our motors running. I was proud of the second half. We still didn't make shots, but we kept fighting. It was a good response from coming out of halftime in a big hole."
Wichmann's career-high scoring output was again propelled by the three-point shot, sinking 5-of-9 while finishing 7-of-11 on the day. He also added five rebounds.
Jeremiah Bell finished in double-figures, netting 13 points off the bench, hitting 6-of-9 shots from the floor in addition to four rebounds and a pair of assists.
"We've been talking a lot about playing smarter," Jordan said. "Playing hard, giving the effort, that is part of what we want to be our identity. Being a tough team. They were the tougher team tonight."
Five different players helped the Leathernecks hand UWM its first loss at home this season. They were led by a double-double of 14 points and 14 rebounds by Mike Miklusak and a near double-double of 15 points and nine boards by Brandon Gilbeck.
Western Illinois jumped out to an early 21-5 advantage and took control quickly. The lead was 44-25 at the break after the visitors shot 62 percent (18-of-29) from the floor before intermission.
The lead hovered around that margin for the majority of the second half, but UWM never gave up. The Panthers trimmed the margin down to 13 late in the contest, but ran out of time before any full-on comeback could be attempted.
Bryce Barnes chipped in eight points, three rebounds, three assists and a pair of steals off the bench for Milwaukee, which was playing shorthanded today due to injury.
August Hass and
Jeremy Johnson both finished with seven points, while
Bryce Nze grabbed a team-high seven rebounds.
The Panthers ended the day at 36.5 percent (19-of-52) from the floor, while WIU finished at 52.8 percent (28-of-53), grabbing the slight 33-32 edge on the boards while also holding a 30-16 advantage in the paint.
It's a quick turnaround for the Panthers, hosting Belmont Monday at UWM Panther Arena. Tip-off time downtown is set for 7 p.m.
