UW-Milwaukee Moves Past Loyola, Heads Into The Horizon League Championship Against Detroit

March 5, 2005

Men's Basketball Championship Page

Saturday, March 5 - Semifinals

No. 1 UW-Milwaukee 94, No. 4 Loyola 76 - Final

Milwaukee, Wis. - Joah Tucker scored a career-high 31 points and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee shot 54.2 percent for the game in claiming a 94-76 win over Loyola Saturday night in the semifinals of the American Family Insurance Horizon League Men's Basketball Championship.

The Panthers (23-5) made 61.5 percent of their shots in the second half to build on an eight-point halftime advantage. UWM has now won eight-straight games and 16 of its last 17.

DaJaun Gouard led the Ramblers (13-17) with 29 points.

The game was played in front of 8,653 fans at the U.S. Cellular Arena, the fourth-largest crowd in UWM history.

The Panthers will now play in the league title game for the third-straight year. They'll host Detroit Tuesday at 8 p.m. at the U.S. Cellular Arena.

After a second-half surge pushed the Panthers' advantage to 65-48 with 12:32 remaining in the game, the Ramblers rebounded to pull within 67-60 with 8:50 left. But, UWM's lead hit 15 at 87-72 on a Chris Hill three with 3:23 remaining and the Panthers were able to empty the bench in the late going.

UWM looked like they might run away with the game early, jumping to a 12-6 lead just three-and-a-half minutes into the game on a three-point shot by Ed McCants. UWM expanded the lead to 17-9 on a three-pointer by Hill and still led 22-13 on an alley-oop dunk by Tucker.

But Loyola rallied with seven-straight points, pulling within 22-20 with 10:36 left on a pair of free throws by Tyrelle Blair. The Panthers recovered late in the half, though, rebuilding an eight-point lead following a three by McCants, and UWM led 42-34 at halftime.

Postgame Quotes
Postgame Notes