MADISON, Wis. - Wisconsin broke open a close game just before halftime with a decisive scoring run that spanned both halves in handing the Milwaukee men's basketball team a 71-49 defeat Friday night at the Kohl Center.
 
The Panthers (4-2) went toe-to-toe with the Badgers (3-3) for the entire first half, with neither team leading by more than two points before Wisconsin used seven points in a row just before intermission to gain some separation.
 
"The first half, I thought we came out and really played aggressively and defensively, we were in the spots that we needed to be," head coach Pat Baldwin said. "You could tell that by (the score), 28-23, down by five and feeling good going into the half."
 
Cold shooting undid any comeback attempts as the second half started, with Milwaukee missing its first five shots and the overall UW scoring run hitting 13-2 at its peak.
 
"Second half was a totally different story," Baldwin said. "The name of the game in the second half was rebounding. We didn't do a great job on the defensive glass. We gave them second opportunities and it led to 19 second-chance points which was our demise in the second half."
 
Bryce Nze led UWM with 10 points. He added seven rebounds as the only player in double-figures.
 
Bryce Barnes, Brock Stull and Jeremiah Bell were just behind, each finishing with nine points.
 
"Happy with my guys with their effort," Baldwin said. "I think every time we come into a game they surprise me with their effort and intensity and wanting to get things down. Just tonight, Wisconsin was a way better team, especially on the glass."
 
Brad Davison paced the Badgers with a season-high 19 points, hitting 7-of-8 field-goal attempts that included an impressive 5-of-6 showing from 3-point range.
 
Following a first half that featured five ties and 10 lead changes, the Badgers kept making shots and getting stops, building the lead to 14 at 39-25 on a desperation-heave from three-point range as the shot clock expired with just over 15 minutes to play.
 
Each time the Panthers pushed, the Badgers pushed back, with the lead growing to 17 at 44-27.
 
Milwaukee was back within 14 at 52-38 on a 3 by Stull at the 7:16 mark but could draw no closer.
 
UWM connected in 45.1 percent (23-of-51) from the floor, but hit just 1-of-11 on 3's and 2-of-8 from the line, while getting out-rebounded for the first time this season at 37-25. UW finished at 50 percent on 54 attempts.
 
Up next, Milwaukee returns to action Wednesday, heading to DeKalb, Ill., for late-night action against Northern Illinois. Tip time against the Huskies is set for 8:30 p.m.