FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Kentrell Pullian and Jamichael Stillwell each posted a double-double but Purdue Fort Wayne used an 11-0 run – scoring every point from the free throw line – to break open a 61-61 deadlock late and escape with a 78-73 victory over the Milwaukee men's basketball team Wednesday night at Memorial Coliseum.
 
The Panthers (11-6, 4-2 Horizon League) battled back from a 13-point second-half deficit against the Mastodons (12-6, 5-2 Horizon League) to make it a new game at 55-55 and then again at 61-all with 4:19 left to play. The home team would then convert 11-of-12 from the charity stripe over the next 69 seconds of game time to claim the victory and improve to 8-0 at home this season.
 
"It was 11 straight free throws but we continued to fight," head coach Bart Lundy said postgame. "We had some chances there late, but at that point I think everyone on our bench and on our team was frustrated."
 
Themus Fulks led the MKE offense with 18 points, adding four rebounds.
 
Pullian recorded his second double-double of the season with 16 points and 12 rebounds, shooting 5-of-10 from the floor and 4-of-4 from the line.
 
Stillwell, who entered play tonight as the leading rebounder in the NCAA at 11.9 a game, extended his program record for double-doubles in a season to 11 with 15 points and 11 boards, adding three steals.
 
Erik Pratt was also in double-figures, chipping in 10 points. Faizon Fields returned to the court for the first time since November 22 due to injury, recording three points and seven rebounds in 14:52 of game time.
 
Jalen Jackson, the second-leading scorer in the Horizon League, led the way for the 'Dons with a game-high 25 points, just missing out on a double-double with nine rebounds. Rasheed Bello was right behind with 23.
 
Down 45-32 early in the second half after Purdue Fort Wayne went on a 13-0 scoring run spanning both halves, the Panthers dug in and started their comeback.
 
"We had a bad end to the first half and instead of going down three, we were down eight (40-32) and then they hit us coming out of halftime." Lundy said.
 
Stillwell split a pair of free throws to get back with 10 at 47-37 and six in a row jumpstarted digging out of the hole. It was down to six on a tough finish from Fulks at 51-45 before Pullian hit a big three-pointer to make it a one-possession game at 55-52.
 
The defense got a stop and on the next possession, after a blocked shot, AJ McKee corralled the offensive rebound beyond the arc and connected from deep – making the scoreboard read 55-55 with 9:10 left to play.
 
The game was knotted again on a McKee free throw at 61 before the game was decided at the line.
 
The first half was a battle up until the closing minute, seeing 11 lead changes before the 'Dons closed the period with eight consecutive points to head into the locker room up 40-32.
 
For the game, Milwaukee shot 38.6 percent (27-of-70) from the floor, while the Mastodons connected on 42.6 percent (26-of-61). The Panthers won the rebounding battle, 46-32, but were held to 12 fastbreak points and saw the home side convert 18-of-21 from the line.
 
Up next, the team returns to UWM Panther Arena for the first time in over a month, hosting Green Bay Saturday afternoon in the second installment of the battle of I-43 this season. Tip time against the Phoenix is set for 3 p.m.
 
"We talked in there, to win a league, you have to win your home games and split your road games," Lundy said. "At 15-5, I don't know exactly, but I would say that probably wins the league or very close. So we were hoping to get one tonight – we didn't get it at Oakland so we are 2-2 on the road. With that in mind, there is a lot more basketball to play."