DETROIT, Mich. - Cody Wichmann tied his career-high with 23 points and hit a three-pointer with 22.5 seconds left in overtime to put away a 73-69 victory for the Milwaukee men's basketball team over Detroit Mercy Friday night at Calihan Hall.
 
The Panthers (8-14, 4-5 Horizon League) made it back-to-back comeback wins, trailing the Titans (4-17, 2-7 Horizon League) by five points with six minutes to play.
 
"Our guys are learning how to win and that is a step in the process," Milwaukee head coach LaVall Jordan said. "Building culture first and trying to establish what you want to be about, what your identity is, that's one thing. They have to learn that and learn habits. And then you learn how to compete. And then you have to learn how to win."
 
Jeremy Johnson's layup with 9.8 seconds left in regulation helped force OT and Wichmann's sixth 3-pointer of the game iced the win for Milwaukee, giving Jordan his first three-game winning streak of the season.

"I expected it to be a pretty tight ballgame," Jordan said. "They are a talented team. I know they are missing a couple of guys due to injury, but just watching them on film, Coach Bacari is doing a really good job of getting those guys to buy-in and play the way that he wants them to play."
 
In addition to Wichmann's outburst, Brock Stull added his fourth career double-double, finishing with 16 points and a career-high 17 rebounds while adding five assists.
 
"First half he (Wichmann) was tremendous," Jordan said. "He's a guy we look for each and every time he is available and he's always ready to shoot it. I thought he showed great patience and poise and didn't get frustrated. And he was mentally ready to make the big one late in overtime."
 
Bryce Nze played a key role, added 12 points and eight boards, scoring two key baskets in the overtime session, tying the game at 67-all and putting them ahead, 69-67, on a tough finish at the rim with just under a minute to go.
 
Johnson had 11, chipping in four rebounds while making all four of his free throw attempts.
 
Jordan was facing a familiar face in the game in Bacari Alexander, as the contest pitted a pair of first-year head coaches who had each spent six years together under head coach John Beilein at Michigan.
 
Corey Allen paced the Titans with 22 points, while Jaleel Hogan added a double-double of 15 points and 11 rebounds. Detroit helped Milwaukee's cause with a tough night from the free throw line, missing 20 attempts from the charity stripe (9-29, 31.0 percent).
 
Milwaukee led for most of the night and back-to-back three's by Johnson and Stull capped an 8-2 spurt and gave UWM the 39-31 lead and forced a timeout.
 
Detroit regrouped, using a 16-8 push to make it a new game at 47-all. From there the Panthers went cold, eventually falling behind 56-51 with 6:03 to play.
 
A three by August Haas trimmed it to a one-possession game next, marking Milwaukee's first made basket in over five minutes. The comeback continued and was tied for the 11^th time at 58-58 after Johnson made four free throws in a row.
 
Stull made 1-of-2 after a Detroit basket, setting the stage for Johnson's clutch hoop after a great pass from Stull put UWM ahead, 60-59, with just 9.8 seconds left.
 
What could have been the game-winner was denied in the final second of the night. A scrum of people went for a rebound following a miss and a foul was called as the horn went off. Following a replay review, Corey Allen made just one of two with 1.1 put back on the clock but UWM was unable to get off a chance at a winner.
 
Milwaukee fell behind to start overtime on a quick three, but stayed calm down the stretch. Nze's baskets were huge and Wichmann secured the win with the big three.
 
The first half offense was carried by Wichmann, who connected on five 3's – with every make a swish – en route to 17 points by intermission.
 
Milwaukee started strong, making five of its first seven shots to grab an 11-7 advantage. The tides turned quickly, with UDM netting eight points in a row to forge ahead at 15-11. A Wichmann triple pushed the Panthers ahead, 16-15, at the 9:32 mark and back-to-back trifectas from Cody helped Milwaukee on its way to its largest lead of the half – at 26-19 with 6:03 to play.
 
For the night, Milwaukee shot 43.9 percent (25-of-57), out-rebounding the Titans by a 42-37 count. The Titans finished at 44.1 percent (26-of-59), while the night featured 11 ties and 13 lead changes.
 
Up next, the weekend in Michigan continues, with the Panthers heading to play Oakland Sunday. Tip-off time against the Golden Grizzlies is set for 12 p.m. CST.