DETROIT, Mich. - The Milwaukee men's basketball team used a record-setting defensive effort and a key scoring run in the second half to upset Valparaiso, 43-41, and advance in the Horizon League Tournament Saturday night at Joe Louis Arena.
 
"I am extremely proud of our guys," Milwaukee head coach LaVall Jordan said. "The resiliency, the character of this group - others have gotten to see it this weekend. Every day this group shows up, in spite of the record, and they are just hungry to learn, want to get better and work like crazy."
 
The Panthers (10-23) held Valparaiso (24-8) to just 12 first-half points – the fewest allowed to an NCAA D-I opponent in a first half in school history - and used a key 8-0 scoring run after trailing for the only time on the night, turning a 28-27 deficit into a 35-28 lead and then held on from there.
 
"You would not know, if you came to practice, what the record was," Jordan said. "I am so proud of them for being consistent in their approach. We just talked about being tough, and I thought we were tough down the stretch."
 
Cody Wichmann led the way with 11 points, nearly adding a double-double with a team-high nine rebounds.
 
Brock Stull and Brett Prahl both had seven in the defensive-minded postseason matchup at Motor City Madness. And, for the fourth time in four games over the past two days, the lower seed has advanced.
 
"A lot of respect for Valparaiso," Jordan said. "A tremendous program, great tradition. They have a really good coach and their kids play extremely hard."
 
Up just 16-12 at intermission, the Panthers made the first basket of the second half but couldn't keep Valpo off the board, finally making its first push of the contest. The Crusaders kept chipping away and finally took their first lead at 28-27.
 
The Panthers responded immediately. Bryce Nze got a rebound and tip-in to immediately retake the lead – in fact the Panthers trailed for just 27 seconds the entire night. Jeremiah Bell followed that up with a 3-pointer at the end of the shot clock and three free throws by Wichmann made it eight in a row for UWM and gave it the 35-28 with just over seven minutes to play.
 
Wichmann's huge 3-pointer gave UWM a 41-35 lead with just under four minutes to play. Stull's late jumper pushed the lead to 43-40 with 43 seconds to go and the defense fended off each of the final three Crusader shots to escape with the upset win.
 
The Panthers put up a historic effort on defense in the first half, setting a new school record for fewest points allowed to an NCAA Division I opponent. The 12 points allowed topped the previous low of 13 (vs. Texas Southern 11/20/11).
 
Milwaukee forced Valpo into as many turnovers as points in the first 20 minutes (12-12) and held them without a single point for the first 6:59 of the contest.
 
The squad was not able to take full advantage, leading just 4-0 on 2-of-8 shooting. Midway through the first half, the Panthers led 4-3 and the teams were a combined 3-of-19 from the floor with nine combined turnovers.
 
For the night, the defense held Valpo to a season-low point total as well as a season-low 31.9 percent (15-of-47) from the floor. The nation's fifth-best free throw shooting team missed its first five attempts on the night and went 7-for-15 overall.
 
The Panthers will have a day off and advance to play Monday night, taking on the winner of Green Bay and UIC (played tomorrow). The tip-off is set for 8:30 p.m. CST.