MILWAUKEE – Down 10 at halftime and as many as 14 in the game, the Milwaukee men's basketball team came storming back with a sparkling second-half performance to claim an 83-76 victory over Cleveland State Thursday night at UWM Panther Arena.
 
The Panthers (6-9, 1-1 Horizon League) used an impressive 24-4 run to turn a 10-point second-half deficit into a 10-point advantage against the Vikings, extending their win streak over the visitors to four straight in the process.
 
"What a game for us to battle back after Cleveland State really took it to us in the first half, especially on the glass," head coach Pat Baldwin said. "Our second half got better and then we went on our run that really got us back into the game. There were some great steals on the defensive end that led into some transitions and some 'and-ones' that got the energy going in Panther Arena."
 
Darius Roy led four players in double-figures, finishing with 24 points on 10-of-16 shooting from the floor. Jake Wright finished with 16 points, adding four rebounds and a perfect 8-for-8 showing from the free throw line.
 
"Very proud of our guys for their resilience, for coming back after not playing so well in the latter part of the first half," Baldwin said.
 
Vance Johnson pitched in 13 points and six boards, while DeAndre Abram had 13 points and a game-high four steals.
 
Tyree Appleby led CSU with 33 points, including seven three-pointers.
 
"The thing that I talked to them [the team] about is that that this league is very tough and there are no gimmies in this league," Baldwin said. "You have to be consistent and play hard every single night. Proud of our guys and thankful to get this win."
 
Milwaukee flipped the switch at intermission, shooting 60 percent (15-of-25) from the floor in the second half to go along with 54.5 percent (6-of-11) from long-range as well as a 19-for-25 showing (76 percent) from the free throw line.
 
Down 10 at the break, the deficit was back to 14 at 47-33 at the first media timeout. The Panthers would chip away; scoring eight in a row to get back within six before Appleby connected on back-to-back 3's to get it back to double-digits once again at 53-43.
 
From there it was all Milwaukee. That 24-4 scoring run would follow, getting turnovers that led to quick points to turn the tide. Bobby Arthur-Williams hit a clutch three to make it a one-possession game and then Roy missed the second of two free throws, but came up with a steal off the rebound and a layup that gave Milwaukee the 57-55 lead at the 8:30 mark.
 
The Panthers would never trail again.
 
Wright scored seven in the decisive run, including a pair of free throws at the 4:59 mark to cap it and give MKE the 67-57 advantage.
 
Cleveland State would find a way to get within five late, but Milwaukee closed it out from the free throw line with seven makes in the final minute.
 
Back and forth early, the Milwaukee used a 7-1 run to turn a 15-12 hole into a 19-16 advantage. From there it was all CSU. The visitors scored seven in a row to force a timeout, but the scoring run grew to 16-1 before forcing another timeout at the 5:47 mark with the scoreboard reading 32-20.
 
The Panthers finished the night at 49.1 percent (27-of-55) from the floor, connecting on 22-of-29 from the line. Despite being out-rebounded, 39-27, the team used a huge advantage in both turnovers (season-high 20 compared to 11 for MKE) and points off turnovers (season-high 31/prior best was 17) to earn the important conference win.
 
Up next, the Panthers close out the three-game homestand welcoming Youngstown State downtown. Game time Saturday is set for 4 p.m.