UW-Milwaukee’s biggest goal has remained the same all year long β be ready for March. In their final regular season tune-up, the Panthers showed just that, outpacing the third-place Green Bay Phoenix 90-69.
With the win, the Panthers finish the regular season with a 12-8 record.
Offense dominates early on both sides
It was a senior day shootout, early, with both squads firing from deep, combining to sink more than half of all 3-point attempts. Green Bay led 48-46 at the half.
The home team set the tone against the Phoenix and their defense, which ranks first in the Horizon League. The 46 first-half Panther points was the second most allowed by Green Bay this year.
Season-best second half leads Panthers to big victory
Fueled by a 17-0 run early in the second half, the Panthers left little doubt that they were the superior of the Horizon League’s two Wisconsin teams on Saturday. Milwaukee’s 23-point second-half margin was their best of the season, a notable stat for a team that’s thrived in the second half.
“Coming out of halftime, we knew we were going to have to get stops,” said Faizon Fields after the win. “We all played together, bought in defensively in the second half β that’s what happens when we play together defensively.”
The Panthers had five players hit double digits in scoring β Fields, BJ Freeman, Erik Pratt, Elijah Jamison and Dominic Ham. Freeman’s 22 points marked his seventh consecutive game with 22 or more. The junior added 11 rebounds.
Head Coach Bart Lundy added praise for his four seniors on their efforts in the regular season finale.
“I’m happy for them, that they played well and that we sent them out with this kind of game,” said Lundy.
Guards Preston Ruediger and David Douglas Jr. led Green Bay with 15 points apiece in Noah Reynolds’ absence. Elijah Jones grabbed a team-high seven rebounds for the Phoenix, who were outrebounded 42-22 in the contest.
Next up: Horizon League tournament
Just four wins sit between UWM and a trip to the Big Dance. The first roadblock? The 1-30 Detroit Mercy Titans, who will square off with the sixth-seeded Panthers on Tuesday at the Klotsche Center.
Lundy sees the on-campus venue as a big home-court advantage.
“It’s just so intimate in the ‘K,'” said Lundy. “I think it’s intimidating for teams.”
A win would earn the Panthers a trip to Green Bay for a rematch against their in-state rivals.
Saturday also marked Darius Duffy’s return to game action, his first appearance since a finger fracture against Detroit Mercy on Jan. 25. With Duffy’s return, the Panthers enter the conference tournament healthier than they’ve been all year.
With a team that’s healthy and has won five of its last six games, the black-and-gold are feeling optimistic going into the postseason.
“We’re ready,” said Lundy. “We’re ready for March.”
Freeman upped his coach: “We’re more than ready.”
The Panthers open the conference tournament with a 7 p.m. date with last-place Detroit Mercy on Tuesday, March 5.