CHICAGO, Ill. - Bryce Nze scored a season-high 22 points on one of the best shooting nights in school history, but it was not enough as UIC pulled away in the second half to claim a 71-57 victory over the Milwaukee men's basketball team Tuesday night at the UIC Pavilion.
 
"We have to do a better job of coaching them through those moments," Milwaukee head coach LaVall Jordan said. "This team keeps fighting. Even though the shots didn't fall, we kept fighting all the way to the end. Sometimes you have those nights where the shots just don't fall and we had one of those tonight. We did have some bright spots, with Bryce Nze coming in and I thought Jeremy Johnson played great."
 
The Panthers (5-14, 1-5 Horizon League) kept the Flames (11-8, 4-2 Horizon League) in check with a solid effort on defense in the first half, but UIC shot 54 percent in the second half to build a big lead before Milwaukee managed to battle back at the end once again.
 
Nze finished the night 10-of-12 from the floor, an .833 clip that checks in as the third-best shooting percentage in a single game in program history (top spot is shared at 11-13, .846).
 
"He's been getting better and growing in the interior," Jordan said. "It's kind of new for him to play down there with his back to the basket. He's extremely coachable, that's what you love about him. Every day he comes to practice to work."
 
Nze added six rebounds and three steals in just 20 minutes, becoming the first UWM freshman to go for more than 20 points in over 17 years.
 
Cody Wichmann joined Nze in double-figures with 11 points, adding five rebounds. Brett Prahl chipped in eight points and five boards, as a cold night from three-point range – just 3-14 – hampered the team's effort against the Flames, who have now won four of their past five games.
 
Jeremy Johnson had six points, five rebounds and three assists, tying season-highs in boards and assists.
 
UIC was paced by a big night from Tai Odiase, who led the way with 20 points and 12 rebounds. Sixth in the nation in blocks with 3.0 per game, Odiase rejected six on the evening and went 9-of-14 from the floor.
 
Three other players finished in double-figures, led by 16 from Godwin Boahen, who connected on four three-pointers.
 
UWM scored the first basket of the second half to trail just 30-26, but six quick points in a row gave UIC its first double-digit advantage at the 18-minute mark at 36-26.
 
UIC built the lead to as many as 16 on a transition three at 49-33, although Milwaukee would never give in. Good defense forced misses and turnovers and the lead was back down to nine on a Wichmann three with nine minutes to play. UIC retook momentum from there, using a 7-0 spurt to reestablish the lead and then salted it away from there.
 
Milwaukee found itself down, 30-24, at the half. A strong defense that limited the opponent to 35 percent shooting and the big first-half effort from Nze kept UIC from pulling away earlier. Nze had half of his team's points at the break, making 6-of-7 field goals on his way to those 12 points.

Cold shooting hampered the start, with UWM sinking just one of its first seven field goal attempts. The teams combined for seven turnovers before the first media timeout and the early deficit facing Milwaukee was 12-4.
 
An alley-oop dunk by Odiase gave UIC its biggest lead of the frame at 20-11 before Nze put the team on his back. Working the paint, Nze dominated, keying an 8-2 spurt to make it a one-possession game at 22-19 and 24-21.
 
Milwaukee ended the night 41.4 percent (24-of-58) from the floor and made 75 percent of its free throws. It turned the ball over just 12 times, but UIC converted that into an 18-8 advantage in points off those miscues whole also winning the rebounding battle, 38-31. The home team finished the night at 43.9 percent (25-of-57) from the field.
 
Up next, Milwaukee is back home for the weekend, welcoming two more Horizon League contests to the UWM Panther Arena. Up first is a Friday night affair against Cleveland State, tipping at 7 p.m.