CHICAGO – The Milwaukee men's basketball team responded to turn a 14-point second-half deficit into a two-possession game, but could get no closer, falling by a final score of 71-58 to UIC Saturday night at Credit Union 1 Arena.
 
The Panthers (10-21, 8-14 Horizon League) used a 10-3 scoring run to pull within six points of the Flames (13-15, 9-10 Horizon League) at 59-53, but then ran out of steam, seeing UIC respond and then pull away down the stretch.
 
"It was unfortunate, we had the ball down six and had a turnover and they pushed the lead back up," head coach Pat Baldwin said. "We just have to learn from it. When we are in those positions, we have to take care of the basketball and value it."
 
DeAndre Gholston led the way again for the MKE offense, finishing with 18 points, while adding six rebounds.
 
Joey St. Pierre finished with a season-high 14 points, adding five boards while hitting 6-of-8 field-goal attempts.
 
Michael Diggins led the home team with 16 points.
 
"I was happy about our start in the first half and we did some really good things early on," Baldwin said. "Obviously, we didn't go to the half with the lead but what turned some things in the second half was our turnovers and giving up some offensive boards. There are some things that we need to shore up and get ready for our game on Tuesday."
 
The Flames built on a strong finish to the first half out of the locker room, scoring eight of the first 11 to force a Milwaukee timeout after forging ahead 45-34.
 
UIC would keep adding, pushing to 59-45 to take a 14-point lead, its largest of the night at that point. After the teams traded mini-runs of 6-0 each, the Panthers packed one last punch. Led by a strong defensive effort, the team was back within six after back-to-back three-pointers from Donovan Newby and Devon Hancock, with 7:14 to go.
 
But the run came to a quick halt, seeing the Flames respond with 10 straight to retake momentum and earn the victory.
 
The Panthers couldn't keep a strong start going, jumpstarted by Gholston connecting on an early triple, followed by his three free throws on the next possession to jump ahead, 12-6.
 
It was 19-13 after St. Pierre split a pair from the charity stripe and MKE led 23-16 with Gholston (11) and St. Pierre (10) combining for 21 of the first 23 of the night.
 
It was all UIC into the half from there, moving ahead on the scoreboard on a three at 26-25, part of a stretch that saw them post a 17-4 run as well as scoring 21 of the final 28 of the period to take a 37-31 lead into the locker room.
 
After a strong start from the floor, the Panthers ended the night at just 38.2 percent (21-of-55) overall. They held UIC to 34.3 percent (24-of-70), but lost the rebounding battle, 46-35.
 
Up next, the Panthers open postseason play Tuesday night and already know they will host the Flames. Game time is set for 7 p.m. at UWM Panther Arena.
 
"Tuesday is what matters," Baldwin said. "We are anxious to get to the film and make all of the necessary adjustments in order to win on Tuesday."
 
Tickets are available on the MKE website or at this LINK.