DETROIT, Mich. - The unprecedented five-day run for the Milwaukee men's basketball team at Motor City Madness came to an end, finishing one upset short of an improbable NCAA Tournament appearance after falling, 59-53, to Northern Kentucky Tuesday night at Joe Louis Arena.
 
The Panthers (11-24) hung around all game, never letting the Norse (24-10) deliver the knockout punch until the final seconds in front of a national television audience on ESPN.
 
"Congratulations to Coach Brannen and Northern Kentucky," Milwaukee head coach LaVall Jordan said. "They played a heck of a game. They fought, and they deserved to win it tonight. I've said this at the microphone, I don't know how many times, it's unfortunate that this is the last time I get to say it this season – but extremely proud of this group … just for believing."
 
Brock Stull led the way with 19 points, adding four rebounds. Brett Prahl added 12 points and five boards.
 
Both players earned spots on the Horizon League All-Tournament Team.
 
"I think it was an inspiration to, I don't know how many people," Jordan said. "I know people in the Milwaukee community, at our University and in our city, inspired a lot of them to believe. I have so much respect for our young men, our student-athletes that are wearing the jersey and representing Milwaukee with so much pride. They showed up every day, regardless of the circumstance and just wanted to improve – be a better team, be better teammates, to figure out how to get things done together. I couldn't be more thankful for a first group to coach."
 
Tournament MVP LaVone Holland scored a game-high 20 points. Drew McDonald added a double-double of 14 points and 12 rebounds to lead Northern Kentucky to its first NCAA Tournament appearance.
 
It was a two-possession game the final 15:32 of the night, but Milwaukee could never get over the hump. On the three different occasions UWM fought back within one possession, the Norse would answer.
 
Down by three at the break on a buzzer-beating putback by Prahl, the Panthers found themselves quickly trailing by eight early in the second half. A bucket by Prahl at the 15:32 mark trimmed the margin to six at 39-33 and the game went back-and-forth from there.
 
A dunk by Bryce Nze made it 39-35, but again, the Norse had an answer. Bryce Barnes' three-pointer had Milwaukee back within three at 41-38. Each time, Milwaukee could get no closer.
 
A Cody Wichmann three from the corner gave the Panthers one final breathe of life at 54-51 with just over a minute remaining. Down four after a free throw, Milwaukee got off three good looks at a three-pointer, only to see the rim unkind each time and the clock run out on a magical postseason ride.
 
A slow start hurt the Panthers out of the gates. Northern Kentucky led by as many as nine points on five different occasions in the first half but UWM would never give up. Six points in a row to close the period made it a 31-28 game at intermission.
 
Milwaukee finished the night at 36.2 percent (21-of-58) from the floor, connecting on just 4-of-18 tries from three-point range. The Norse were only a touch better at 41.5 percent (22-of-53), but were helped by a 38-30 advantage on the boards.
 
After playing from in front in the large majority of the first three games – upsetting the No. 7 seed (Detroit), the No. 2 seed (Valparaiso) and the No. 6 seed (UIC), the only lead Milwaukee saw in the championship was at 2-0 to start the game.
 
It was a thrilling run for UWM, becoming the first No. 10 seed to win even one game in the history of the Horizon League Tournament. The team rallied the University and the city in a thrilling run that gives the program a huge momentum lift heading into the off-season.
 
Milwaukee said goodbye to three seniors, with Cody Wichmann, Cameron Harvey and Dan Studer all playing in their final games in a Panther uniform.