CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Milwaukee men's basketball team cut a 21-point deficit down to just seven points on three different occasions, but was unable to complete the comeback in falling at Cleveland State Saturday afternoon at the Wolstein Center.
 
The Panthers (16-9, 9-5 Horizon League) had the deficit to down to 51-44 at the midway point of the second half against the Vikings (18-7, 12-2 Horizon League) and were again within eight with three minutes remaining but ran out of time in the 77-60 decision.
 
Cleveland State, ranked No. 22 in the latest Collegeinsider.com Mid Major Poll, moves to 26-5 at home the past two seasons.
 
AJ McKee was one of three players in double figures for the MKE offense, leading the way with 17 points, including a 7-of-8 effort from the free throw line.
 
Kentrell Pullian added 15 points and six rebounds, while Faizon Fields joined them in double-figures, finishing with 11 points.
 
Tahj Staveskie led CSU with a career night, finishing with 30 points on 11-of-16 shooting, including a 5-of-8 showing from long range. His 3-pointer when the Panthers had gotten back within eight on a pair of Fields' free throws at 64-56 with 3:05 to play was the backbreaker.
 
"They came out and were the much more physical team and we just didn't adjust and respond in that first half," head coach Bart Lundy said. "You're going to miss shots, but uncharacteristic turnovers for us. We just didn't stick together when things got hard – it was disappointing."
 
Down 41-20 at the break after a buzzer CSU 3 added to the deficit, the Panthers came roaring out of the locker room. The team went on a 12-0 run, with Pullian's 3-point play making it 41-30 and two more on a KP layup capping the spree at 41-32 just 5:07 into the period.
 
"We had a little fight in the second half but for the most part, Cleveland State dominated the game start to finish," Lundy said. "Give them credit."
 
Back-and-forth for a bit, McKee's big corner triple made it 51-44 and forced a Vikings' timeout. Despite the heroics, that was as close as MKE would get the rest of the way.
 
A slow start put the team behind, making just one of its first 10 shots in falling behind 13-2 out of the gates.
 
For the game, Milwaukee ended at 40.9 percent (18-of-44) after connecting on over 60 percent after intermission. The team made 25.0 percent (3-of-12) from deep and 75.0 percent (21-of-28) from the line.
 
CSU finished at 42.6 percent (26-of-61), making 33.3 percent (6-of-18) from deep and 79.2 percent (19-of-24) from the line. The defense forced 25 MKE miscues, resulting in a 30-8 advantage in points off turnovers.
 
Up next, the Panthers return home for a pair of games next weekend, wrapping up homecoming week on campus when they host Wright State Friday. Tip time against the Raiders is set for 7 p.m.