MILWAUKEE – The Milwaukee men's basketball team used a strong first-half performance and eventually led by as many as 19 points before claiming a 74-61 victory over IUPUI Saturday night at UWM Panther Arena.
 
The Panthers (7-3, 2-0 Horizon League) hit eight three-pointers and shot 52 percent in the opening period to take a 46-33 lead at the break over the Jaguars (1-7, 0-1 Horizon League) and have now won five games in a row overall.
 
The 7-3 record though 10 games marks the best 10-game start for Milwaukee since a 7-3 ledger to open the 2015-16 campaign.
 
"I've always been optimistic," head coach Bart Lundy said. "I always thought we'd be good. We play against each other every day, so I don't know any other feeling. I see the gaps that we had and how much growth potential we have."
 
Kentrell Pullian led the way with an 18-point night, adding three rebounds and a pair of steals.
 
Markeith Browning II added 12 points, four rebounds, and four assists, while Justin Thomas joined them in double-figures with 11, chipping in six assists and three steals.
 
Ahmad Rand played big again, finishing with a line of 8 points/6 rebounds/5 blocks on the evening.
 
"When you really boil it down, it's a young group, especially the guys that are playing heavy minutes," Lundy said. "They are young guys and a lot of them have never played on this level. So they are learning each game. Our gaps are closing, the only concern that I have is just maturity – not get too high; not get too low. Just play and do what we do each possession."
 
Vincent Brady II paced the visitors with a career-high 18 points. Jlynn Counter added 10 points and seven assists.
 
Up 13 at the break, the Panthers methodically built their advantage to as many as 19 on a pair of Thomas free throws to see the scoreboard read 58-39 with 11:33 left in the contest.
 
IUPUI had a final push left, drawing back within eight points at 58-50 on the strength of 11 points in a row. That was as close as it would get, as Milwaukee would close it out, with a dunk by Rand – one of eight in the game for the team – taking it back to double-figures at 66-55 and a Pullian 3 on the next possession essentially sealing the game to lead 69-55.
 
Back-and-forth for a bit early, the MKE offense stretched it out to 20-13 before a Browning dunk made it 26-18 with 8:00 left in the period.
 
The lead grew to 31-20 on another powerful Rand dunk and the Jags were forced to take a timeout at 37-22 after Thomas swished a three-pointer.
 
For the game, Milwaukee shot 46.3 percent (25-of-54) overall, making 10 three's while hitting 82.4 percent (14-of-17) from the line. The Jaguars finished at 45.8 percent (22-of-48), with both teams finishing with 30 rebounds. The defense forced 18 turnovers, turning that into a 16-11 in points off turnovers while also getting out in transition to finish with an 11-2 tally on fastbreak points.
 
Up next, the team heads back out of league play with a trip to play Chattanooga Tuesday. Game time is set for 6 p.m. CST.