MILWAUKEE – The Milwaukee men's basketball team was unable to overcome a slow start to the second half in falling to Longwood by a final score of 80-67 Wednesday night at UWM Panther Arena.
 
Despite leading late in the first half and being a two-possession game at intermission, the Panthers (4-7) connected on one field goal over the first four minutes of the second half, allowing the Lancers (11-1) to build a 10-point lead that they were unable to overcome the rest of the way.
 
"We had some breakdowns at the end of the first half and then came out in the second half and couldn't make a shot – we were 0-for our first six 3's and I think if I go back and look at the film, they were pretty open shots," head coach Bart Lundy said. "To me it looked like boys versus men. They had grown men we couldn't control. We tried every scheme we could think of … made up some schemes, and they continuously scored and were productive."
 
Every time the MKE offense made a second-half push, Longwood had an answer, holding off the Panthers down the stretch to become the first NCAA Division I team to reach 11 victories this season, claiming those 11 in a row following a loss in its season opener.
 
"But it's a long season," Lundy said. "We're in a one-bid league and we won't be the first team to have a really bad non-conference that can turn it around in league play. I think this team, by the end, is going to be good."
 
Erik Pratt led the way on offense for the third game in a row, finishing with 12 points while adding three rebounds and a pair of assists.
 
Elijah Jamison had 11 off the bench, while Markeith Browning II finished with 10 points and five boards.
 
"I told them (the team), I have never lost – I'm not going to lose – I will find the guys that can do it," Lundy said. "We will continue to grow … and we will be a good team by the end. I don't know when that will happen, but it will."
 
Szymon Zapala (10-14 FG/8 reb) and Walyn Napper (9 asst/1 to/5 reb) each had 24 points apiece to lead the visitors.
 
Back-and-forth to start, Milwaukee used a 9-4 spurt capped by two straight baskets by Jamison that pushed the team ahead 31-29 and forced a Lancer timeout with 5:18 to go in the first.
 
From there, Milwaukee went cold, hitting just 1-of-8 attempts until intermission in allowing Longwood to score 10 of the final 12 of the period and grab a 39-33 lead at the break.
 
The visitors took advantage to start the second, eventually building a lead to as many as 18. Every time the Panthers made a push and were looking to get back under double-figures, the Lancers found a way to flip momentum.

For the game, the home team finished at 41.3 percent (26-of-63) from the floor compared to 51.7 percent (31-of-60) for the visitors. Longwood grabbed the 37-34 edge on the glass and 46-32 advantage in the paint.
 
Up next, the Panthers have nine days off before returning to the court to welcome Chattanooga to UWM Panther Arena Dec. 22. Game time is scheduled for a 1 p.m. afternoon start.