GRAND FORKS, N.D. – The Milwaukee men's basketball team opened the season with a 75-60 victory over North Dakota, led by 21 points and 10 rebounds by Patrick Baldwin Jr. and a strong overall defensive effort Tuesday at the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center.
 
The Panthers (1-0) led by eight at the break and were in control from start to finish against the Fighting Hawks (0-1), with Baldwin Jr. making his collegiate debut a successful one. He became the first Milwaukee freshman with a double-double in the season opener since 2008 and the first to score 20-plus points in the opener since 1999.
 
"I think when you are a freshman, you come in and don't know what to expect a lot of times," head coach Pat Baldwin said. "But I give him a lot of credit, because he has a ton of confidence in himself and he knows the spots where he is going to get some of those looks. For his first opportunity, first college game, under the lights, under the pressure and in front of a road crowd – he did exceptionally well. To finish with a double-double, I don't know if you can ask for mor than that."
 
The defense also showed up in game No. 1, holding North Dakota to 29 percent shooting (20-of-69) on the night, including 27.6 percent (8-of-29) from three-point range.
 
"I feel good about our performance, especially on the defensive end," Baldwin said. "When we hold a team to 29 percent from the field and 27 from three, I will take that any day of the week. I was happy with our aggressiveness. I thought there was even some times when we could be more aggressive. Overall, to shoot 30 free throws, that bodes well for us."
 
Vin Baker Jr. also returned to the court for the first time in nearly 1,000 days, missing last year with injury and two years ago after transferring in from Boston College. He put together a strong outing, including a slam dunk from the baseline with 1:38 to play that locked up the victory and set off a jubilant celebration by the rest of his teammates on the MKE bench.
 
Baker Jr. chipped in 11 points, with Baldwin Jr. helping his cause with a 7-of-8 showing from the free throw line.
 
DeAndre Gholston added 14 points and six rebounds, while Jordan Lathon chipped in six points and seven boards in his debut in the Black & Gold. Donovan Newby was huge off the bench as well, contributing 12 points, two boards, two steals, and a team-high four assists.
 
Paul Bruns (13) and Ethan Igbanugo (11) were the only Fighting Hawks in double-figures.
 
Milwaukee led by as many as 13 in the first half on a handful of occasions, but saw UND pull back within five at 42-37 with about 15 minutes to play. From there, Newby connected on a three and, on the next possession, Baldwin Jr. ripped down a rebound and found Josh Thomas for the open three that put Milwaukee back ahead 11 at 48-37.
 
They would get no closer, with a Baldwin Jr. three extending the advantage to 55-41 and to as many as 15 after PBJ split a pair of free throws and again on the Baker Jr. dunk.
 
Milwaukee came out quickly from out of the gates and led 9-5 on a Gholston three-pointer and 15-8 on a jumper from Newby at the 11:27 mark.
 
MKE doubled up North Dakota on a pair of Baker Jr. free throws at 20-10 and led by 13 for the first time on a corner three from Newby at 23-10.
 
The Fighting Hawks pushed back a bit, only to see the lead back at 13 on a pair of occasions, both on a Gholston and-one and a pair of Gholston free throws that again pushed the advantage to a baker's dozen at 34-21. North Dakota used a 7-0 spurt to close the gap, but a layup from Baldwin Jr. in the closing seconds of the first gave the Panthers the 36-28 lead at the break.
 
MKE shot 43.4 percent (23-of-53) on the night and made more free throws (23-of-30) than UND attempted (12-of-14).
 
Up next, the Panthers return to Milwaukee for Homecoming 2021, with the home opener slated for Saturday against Eastern Kentucky. Tip time is set for 6 p.m. from UWM Panther Arena.