BELFAST, Northern Ireland – Stephen F. Austin used a decisive scoring run that spanned both halves to claim a 66-51 victory over the Milwaukee men's basketball team Saturday afternoon at the Basketball Hall of Fame Belfast Classic inside the SSE Arena.
 
"Overall, this was a great experience," head coach Pat Baldwin said. "Unfortunately, we wanted to get some wins out of this too. But, I would recommend this for anybody because it was such a good experience."
 
The Panthers (2-6) had used a big scoring run of their own to take a first-half lead against the Lumberjacks (5-2), only to see the momentum turn back quickly in falling in the consolation game of the Goliath Bracket. With the result, Milwaukee finishes 2-2 overall in the tournament.
 
Jake Wright, Carson Warren-Newsome and Wil Sessoms each contributed a team-high nine points. Sessoms added a team-best seven rebounds in just 16 minutes of action.
 
"Our guys tried, they worked hard and gave us everything they had, but it just wasn't enough in a tournament like this that has some very good teams," Baldwin said.
 
Kevon Harris led the 'Jacks with a 15-point/10-rebound double-double.
 
Milwaukee had turned the game around in the first half, eventually leading, 25-21, late in the period. From there it was all SFA. The 'Jacks scored the final eight points of the first half, part of a 23-2 run that turned a four-point MKE edge into 44-27 hole with 13:31 to play.
 
"That was where Stephen F. Austin started controlling the game and we couldn't get it back," Baldwin said. "Certainly to start the second half, we just couldn't find our way back. Our guys tried to get back in; we fought to back to 10, but just couldn't get over the hump."
 
From there, the Panthers would get back within 10 points on a Sessoms rebound and putback at the 12:14 mark. A three-pointer from Jamar Madge with just under three minutes to play made the score 59-48, but that was as close as the team would get the rest of the way.
 
The Panthers quickly dug themselves out of a 17-8 deficit early, after turnovers hampered the effort. No worries for Milwaukee following a timeout at the 12:37 mark, turning momentum with a scoring run that eventually reached 15-3.
 
Warren-Newsome converted a wild drive while getting fouled, with his free throw trimming the margin to 17-14. DeAndre Abram followed with another on the next possession, sinking his free throw following a dunk to make it a new game at 17-17 at the 8:15 mark.
 
A few possessions later, Wright drilled a three from the wing to cap the scoring run, making it 23-20 Milwaukee with 4:25 left while also forcing an SFA timeout. The game turned shortly after that point.
 
Milwaukee held SFA to under 40 percent (.397), but did not shoot well themselves, ending the afternoon at 32.8 percent (19-of-58). The team did win points in the paint at 28-18 and second-chance points at a decisive 20-9.
 
The Panthers return to the States and will have a few days to prepare for Drake, welcoming the Bulldogs Dec. 6 to UWM Panther Arena. The game is scheduled for a 7 p.m. tip.