DAYTON, Ohio -- No. 5 Milwaukee captured the 2014 Horizon League Men’s Basketball Championship over No. 3 Wright State, 69-63. The last Horizon League Tournament title for the Panthers came in 2006, marking the fourth title in school history.
Senior forward Kyle Kelm led the Panthers with 20 points and a game-high nine rebounds.
“Kyle was phenomenal down low, just a beast,” Milwaukee center Matt Tiby said.
Jordan Aaron, who was named Horizon League Tournament MVP, had 18 points and was 4-of-9 from three-point range. Aaron also hit four three-pointers in the Panthers semifinal win over Green Bay. He finished the tournament with 11 three-pointers made, tying the tournament record.
The Panthers went 9-of-18 from long range and held a 35-28 advantage on the boards.
Wright State (20-14) had a season-high six game win streak snapped. The Raiders were the first team since Butler (2010-2011) to reach back-to-back Horizon League Championship Games and the first team to lose in back-to-back championship games since Butler in 2006-07.
Despite playing only 29 minutes, AJ Pacher led the Raiders with 16 points. Pacher shot 6-of-9 from the field.
“It’s going to be painful for a very long time. We’re going to use this as fuel moving forward,” Wright State head coach Billy Donlon stated.
Milwaukee (21-13) entered the tournament losers of four of five and is the first team to finish the conference season under .500 (7-9) and win the conference tournament.
After posting a first round victory over Detroit, 83-73, the Panthers went on the road to Green Bay and beat Valparaiso 74-57 and the Phoenix, 73-66.
“That’s the key to life, what are going to do about it? This group figured it out,” Jeter said.
Milwaukee last appeared in the NCAA Tournament in 2006 when they knocked off Oklahoma in the first round before falling to Florida. The Panthers own a 3-3 all-time record in the tournament.
Milwaukee will find out where they are headed Sunday, March 16 during the NCAA Tournament Selection Show on CBS. Coverage begins at 6:00 p.m. ET.
All-Tournament Team:
-Jordan Aaron, Milwaukee (MVP)
- 82 points in 4 games (21.0 ppg.), 11 3-pointers made
- Kyle Kelm, Milwaukee
- 57 points in 4 games (14.3 ppg.), 21-of-24 (87.5%) from the free throw line, game-high 20 points in championship game.
- Miles Dixon, Wright State **Second consecutive year on the All-Tournament team**
- 41 points in 3 games (13.7 ppg.), scored 37 points on 12-of-18 shooting in 2 games in Green Bay (2nd Round & Semifinals)
- AJ Pacher, Wright State
- 35 points in 3 games (11.7 ppg.) team-high 16 points in Championship game.
- Matt Tiby, Milwaukee
- 44 points in 4 games (11.0 ppg.) 23-of-27 (85.2) from the free throw line in tournament
Championship Game Notes
Tags: Horizon League - Men's Basketball · Milwaukee - Men's Basketball · Wright State - Men's Basketball
