INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Chandler Jackson scored a career-high 25 points – including an offensive rebound and putback in the closing seconds – to help the Milwaukee men's basketball team claim a 92-88 victory over IU Indianapolis Tuesday night at the Jungle.
 
The Panthers (10-17, 6-10 Horizon League) trailed the Jaguars (7-19, 3-12 Horizon League) by nine early in the second half, but used a momentum-changing 19-5 run to take charge and then held off a furious rally at the end to extend their win streak in the all-time series to 12 consecutive games, as well as 16 of the past 17.
 
"We got contributions from a lot of guys and Chandler's career-high – we obviously needed every point of it," head coach Bart Lundy said. "They kept their composure out there [against IU Indy full-court press all game]. Esyah Pippa-White was phenomenal. He not only helped us break the press but helped us stay calm in the halfcourt. We got sped up in the first half a bit; I didn't think we got sped up in the second half."
 
Jackson, playing in front of family and friends in his hometown of Indy, led the way with those 25 points, finishing 7-of-14 from the floor and 11-of-14 from the free throw line. He added eight rebounds – none bigger than his board on a missed free throw with 7.7 seconds remaining to push the MKE lead from 90-88 to 92-88 and finally put the game away.
 
"Game-winner, big shot, in front of his parents, friends, and family in his hometown … just very happy for him and the way he played tonight," Lundy said.
 
Amar Augillard added 17 points – including 12 in the first half – while finishing with seven rebounds of his own. Stevie Elam had 14 points and four boards, including a huge three-pointer with 5:08 remaining that put Milwaukee ahead 74-71 – a lead that held up the rest of the way.
 
Aaron Franklin just missed a double-double with a 9-point/11-rebound night, while Esyah Pippa-White chipped in eight points and four rebounds.
 
Maquire Mitchell paced the 'Jags with 23 points while adding eight rebounds; Kyler D'Augustino finished with 22.
 
Trailing, 55-47, at the 16:53 mark, the Panthers went to work. A pair of Augillard free throws, a Jackson jumper, and a big three from Pippa-White cut the lead to one at 55-54. Pippa-White then came up with a steal and fastbreak dunk to put MKE ahead and Jackson's turnaround at the 10:08 mark capped that 19-5 spree and had the visitors ahead, 66-60, on the scoreboard.
 
Milwaukee would keep IU Indy at arm's length much of the rest of the way, but things got interesting late. Faizon Fields made two crucial free throws with 36.1 left to push it to 86-80; met by a 3-point response by the Jaguars.
 
It was Pippa-White's turn next, converting a pair from the line with 26.2 left to push the lead to 88-83 only to see the home side get a layup. Elam then made his pair of tosses at 14.2 to get to 90-85, but another 3-pointer made it a two-point game with under 10 seconds remaining. Jackson then sealed the win with his putback to lock up the big road victory.
 
"Those guys have really been working hard at staying sharp from the free throw line and their work paid off tonight," Lundy said of the late free throws. "We got there and we made them."
 
Down 15-7 out of the gates, a 7-0 MKE run made it close quickly as the action went fast. Tied at 23-all on a pair of Fields free throws, IU Indy would go on an 11-2 run of its own to lead, 34-25. It was just as quick the other way, with the Panthers scoring nine of the next 10 points, cutting the deficit to just one at 37-36 on an Augillard fastbreak layup to force a timeout. The home side would carve out a 43-39 lead at the break before regaining that nine-point cushion early in the second at 55-47.
 
The MKE offense finished the evening at 48.3 percent (28-of-58) overall, making 75.6 percent (31-of-41) of its free throws. The team also won the rebounding battle, 46-32, doubled-up the opposition on second-chance points (22-11), and scored a season-best 49 bench points. IU Indianapolis connected on 44.4 percent (32-of-72) overall and made 75.0 percent (15-of-20) from the line.
 
Up next, the Panthers return home to host Green Bay in the next installment of the "Battle of I-43" Sunday. Game time against the Phoenix is 2 p.m.