DETROIT, Mich. – Erik Pratt led five players in double-figures with a game-high 20 points as the Milwaukee men's basketball team took care of Detroit Mercy by a final score of 84-61 Saturday afternoon at Calihan Hall.
 
The Panthers (8-8, 3-2 Horizon League) used a big scoring run against the Titans (0-17, 0-6 Horizon League) to open the second half, taking control of the game and keeping the home team winless on the season.
 
"We talked a lot at halftime about the mission being coming in here today to win," head coach Bart Lundy said. "I thought we got distracted a bit in the first half, we weren't focused, and didn't play solid basketball. We came out to start that second half with that mission at the top of our minds."
 
The MKE offense hit 3's on three straight possessions after intermission and when BJ Freeman completed a three-point play at the 15:32 mark, the run hit 14-4 and the lead sat at 51-32.
 
Pratt powered his 20-point afternoon with a 6-of-10 showing from deep, including the first make of the day from downtown despite losing a shoe on the way.
 
Kentrell Pullian added 15 points and eight rebounds, while Freeman finished with 15 points and just missed a double-double with nine boards.
 
Faizon Fields was a very efficient 3-of-4 from the floor and 6-of-8 from the line to record a 12-point/6-board outing in just 12 minutes on the court. Langston Wilson rounded out the five in double-figures, going for 11 points and eight rebounds in 16:30 on the court.
 
"We are getting a lot of contributions from a lot of players and from different places," Lundy said. "System-wise, with BJ (Freeman) being back, we are not smooth at all yet since he hasn't had much practice time. But we have guys playing at a pretty high level – Faizon was great today, KP (Pullian) was on fire with his effort and his energy; so lot of good play today."
 
Marcus Tankersley led the Titans with 18 points.
 
The MKE lead would hit 21 on a jumper by Pullian at 68-47 and, after a Wilson dunk made it 75-54 with 3:19 to go, the scoring gap would remain 20-plus the rest of the way.
 
The Panthers were up 8-3 early and led 13-8 with Pratt scoring a very quick 11 points. The Titans didn't roll over and go away, eventually grabbing a lead of 16-15 before Milwaukee regained momentum.
 
A Fields dunk was part of a 13-5 scoring run that gave MKE a 31-20 lead before another Pratt 3 made it 34-23 to open up the biggest first-half advantage.
 
The offense overcame a very slow start to finish at 42.6 percent (26-of-61) overall, shooting .536 in the second half following a .333 opening to the first 20 minutes. The team dominated the boards to the tune of 53-24 (+19) and was very good from the free throw line once again, connecting on 24-of-28 (.857) on the afternoon.
 
The defense held UDM to just 32.4 percent (22-of-68) from the floor overall, the best effort turned in for MKE defense so far this season. The team also had a season-high nine blocks, including a career-best five from Darius Duffy.
 
Up next, the Panthers are back home Friday, welcoming Cleveland State for a game at UWM Panther Arena that gets underway at 7 p.m.