GREEN BAY, Wis. – Jamichael Stillwell scored a season-high 24 points and set a new program record with 19 rebounds as the Milwaukee men's basketball team turned a close contest into a blowout with a big second half in claiming an 88-67 victory over Green Bay Wednesday night at the Resch Center.
 
After leading by as many as 13 in the first half, the Panthers (7-4, 2-0 Horizon League) used a 26-6 run in the opening minutes of the second against the Phoenix (2-9, 0-3 Horizon League) to turn the decision into a no-doubter, leading by as many as 29 points down the stretch.
 
Stillwell could not be stopped and actually had his sixth double-double of the season by halftime (17 points/11 rebounds in first half alone). His 19 rebounds broke the school record of 18 by Nathan Schrameyer that had stood since 1995. It was also just one carom off the most rebounds in a game across the NCAA this season (20 has been done five times).
 
"We got unbelievable contributions up and down the lineup," Milwaukee head coach Bart Lundy said. "Obviously, Jamichael's rebounding was historic and they had no answer for him. I would like to add that Green Bay's crowd was really good and I really appreciate our fans that traveled up here in the snow. We had a lot of them and it's good to see that growth in our fanbase."
 
In addition to Stillwell's big night, Kentrell Pullian came through with 18 points and eight rebounds, AJ McKee chipped in 12, and Erik Pratt made his return to the court a successful one with 12 points in 16+ minutes of action.
 
The Phoenix was led by Anthony Roy's 20 points, but the MKE defense held him eight points below his NCAA-leading average of 28.0 a game and limited him to just four points in the second half.
 
"I thought AJ (McKee) and Johnny Lovelace on Roy, especially in the second half was big and we got contributions up and down the roster," Lundy said. "I was just really proud of our guys – it was a good step for the program. And I was really proud of those fans behind us."
 
Milwaukee won the rebounding battle by a count of 46-22, with Stillwell nearly outrebounding the entire GB team by himself. The team shot 49.3 percent (34-of-69) and hit a season-high 12 three-pointers in a great all-around effort.
 
The first half featured runs both ways, with Milwaukee going ahead early on a Pratt 3 at 12-11 before forcing a timeout after Stillwell made back-to-back attempts from downtown to make it 18-13. The lead was trimmed down to six, but was back at double-digits on a Stillwell layup at 35-24. Green Bay then scored 14 of the final 25 points and the MKE advantage was 46-38 at the break.
 
The Phoenix had one more charge in them, cutting the lead down to 46-43 on a Roy dunk before the game was flipped on its head.
 
Pullian started the 26-6 run with a triple and a dunk by KP got it back at 10 at 55-45. Themus Fulks hit from downtown and so did John Lovelace Jr., and by the time Stillwell hit yet another three of his own, the lead was 83-59 and the home team was broken. The advantage continued to grow before topping out at 88-59 on a three by Esyah Pippa-White.
 
Darius Duffy finished with eight points (4-4 FG), seven rebounds, and a pair of blocks. Fulks had eight points and eight assists. All players suited up for the night saw the court, including the season debut of Danilo Jovanovich.
 
Up next, the Panthers are set to take part in the "MKE Tip-Off" at Fiserv Forum Sunday. The team will be part of the first game of the three on the day, taking on Akron with a tipoff time set for 12:30 p.m.