THURSDAY'S SCORES
@Milwaukee 64,
SIUE 51
@Valparaiso 61,
Belmont 57
MILWAUKEE 64, SIUE 51
MILWAUKEE, Wis. - Milwaukee used a 14-3 run midway through the second half to pull away for a 64-51 win over SIUE men's basketball Thursday at UWM Panther Arena.
SIUE has dropped six straight and fell to 1-6. Milwaukee improved to 6-3.
The Cougars got out to a fast start, scoring the first four points of the game on jumpers by Yemi Makanjuola and Jalen Henry. The teams traded leads five times during the first 20 minutes and the score was tied five times in the half.
SIUE extended its lead to four twice more in the half. A jump-hook by Mike Chandler with 7:41 to play before half made it 19-15 SIUE. Akeem Springs hit a three-pointer for Milwaukee on the ensuing possession and then J.J. Panoske made a pair of free throws to put the Panthers on top 20-19 and Milwaukee never trailed again.
The Panthers led 29-26 at halftime.
The Panthers went up 10 (38-28) within the first five minutes of the second half before SIUE mounted a comeback. A Connor Wheeler three-pointer with 11:38 to play capped a 9-3 SIUE run and trimmed Milwaukee's lead to 41-37.
Jordan Johnson converted a layup, was fouled, and then hit his free throw to start Milwaukee on its run.
Carlos Anderson was the only SIUE player to score in double figures. He led the team with 10 points and a career-high eight rebounds. Grant Fiorentinos and Burak Eslik each added eight points. Yemi Makanjuola scored seven points and added seven rebounds. Keenan Simmons scored five points and also added a career-high eight rebounds.
Matt Tiby led three Milwaukee players in double figures. He scored 12 and grabbed a team-high eight rebounds. Johnson and Cody Wichmann each scored 10 points.
SIUE outrebounded Milwaukee 43-34 for the game and the Cougars held a 28-24 advantage in points in the paint, but SIUE centers were hampered by early fouls. Makanjuola was whistled for two early fouls and Fiorentinos picked up two fouls in the first half as well.
Milwaukee also adjusted its defense to handle the Cougars' size advantage.
VALPARAISO 61, BELMONT 57
VALPARAISO, Ind. - In a tough environment against a solid mid-major opponent, the Belmont men's basketball team fell to Valparaiso 61-57 Thursday night at the Athletics-Recreation Center in Valparaiso, Indiana.
Coming off a win against crosstown rival Lipscomb two nights earlier, the Bruins (5-4) faced a stern test in a Crusader team that only had two losses in their first eight games.
The first half was a back and forth affair, with no more than a five point lead for either team. The Bruins got an early 7-4 lead on a layup by Evan Bradds. Valpo then went a 7-0 run to take an 11-7 lead at the 15 minute mark. They held the lead until the 5:30 mark, when Dylan Windler made a conventional three-point play to give BU the lead at 21-20. The lead would volley back and forth the next four minutes before Valpo's Shane Hammink hit a three pointer with 40 seconds left to give the Crusaders a 30-26 lead going into halftime.
The Bruins came out strong in the second half as Austin Luke hit back to back three pointers to give Belmont the lead at 32-30. BU kept the lead until a layup by Peters gave the Crusaders the 36-34 lead. After Kevin McClain tied the game at 36 with 16 minutes to go, Valpo scored the next four points to stretch their lead to four at 40-36.
The Bruins then went on a 7-0 run, capped by a rebound and putback by Mack Mercer, to take the lead at 43-40. After the Crusaders cut the lead to one at 43-42, the Bruins scored the four of the next five points to give them a four point lead at 47-43. Valpo cut the Bruin lead to one again at 49-48 on an Alec Peters three pointer, but Craig Bradshaw responded with a three of his own to stretch the lead back to four at 52-48 with 5:18 to go. However, the Crusaders went on a late 13-5 run late in the last five minutes, keyed by a Victor Nickerson three-pointer, to grab the lead and eventually a 61-57 victory.
Belmont had four players in double figures led by senior Craig Bradshaw's 12 points on 5 of 11 shooting. Junior Evan Bradds had 11 points and a team-high eight rebounds. Sophomores Austin Luke and Amanze Egekeze each added 10.
Valparaiso (7-2) had two players in double figures: Alec Peters, who led all scorers with 17 points, and Keith Carter who added 14.