UW-Milwaukee Claims Outright League Title

Feb. 17, 2005

UW-Milwaukee 64, Butler 53


MILWAUKEE (AP) -- Ed McCants scored 22 points and Joah Tucker 21 Wednesday night as UW-Milwaukee defeated Butler 64-53 to win its second straight Horizon League regular season championship.


Milwaukee improved to 20-5 overall and 13-2 in the conference by winning for the 13th time in its last 14 games. With only one league game remaining for the Panthers, the victory means second-place UW-Green Bay, which is two games back, cannot catch Milwaukee.


The Bulldogs (10-14, 5-9) were led by Brandon Crone with 14 points, Brandon Polk with 13 and Bruce Horan, who had 12.


Adrian Tigert's basket 12 seconds into the second half gave the Panthers their first lead of the game at 28-27 and McCants followed that with Milwaukee's first 3-point goal to boost the advantage to four points.


The Bulldogs pulled within two at 42-40 on a basket by Polk, but the Panthers got two free throws from James Wright and a field goal by Tucker to lead by six points and the Bulldogs never got that close again.


The Panthers missed their first nine shots and 15 of their first 17 field goal attempts and trailed 17-6 after a basket by Brian Ligon with 10:37 remaining. But Tucker scored 10 points to lead a comeback and Milwaukee pulled within a point at the half at 27-26 on a pair of free throws by Wright with 48.6 seconds left.


Before the game, the Panthers honored three seniors who played their last regular season home game -- McCants, Wright and Rob Sanders.


Box Score

Detroit 67, Cleveland State 52


DETROIT (AP) -- Brandon Cotton scored 17 points to help Detroit beat Cleveland State 67-52 on Wednesday night in a Horizon League game.


The Titans (10-14, 7-7) improved their chances of hosting a first-round playoff game next month. The Titans have won 11 of the last 12 meetings, including all five games played on their home court.


Raheem Moss had 13 points to lead the Vikings (9-13, 6-8).


The Vikings led 39-38 six minutes into the second half, but managed just two free throws during the next six minutes. In the same span, the Titans scored 16 points to take control of the game.


Chuck Bailey's layup started the run and gave Detroit the lead for good, and a Cotton basket pushed the Titans advantage into double digits with eight minutes to play. James Thues added 13 points and five rebounds.


Cleveland State's Omari Westley was benched in the first half by coach Mike Garland for an unspecified violation of team rules. He went on to play nearly all of the second half and scored 12 points.


Box Score

Wright State 71, Youngstown State 64


YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (AP) -- Drew Burleson scored 21 points and DaShaun Wood had 19 to lead Wright State to a 71-64 victory over Youngstown State on Wednesday night.


The Raiders (12-13, 7-7 Horizon) took the lead at 10-9 on a jumper by Zach Williams with 13:43 left in the first half and led the rest of the way.


Youngstown State (4-20, 2-12) drew within three at 60-57 on a 3-pointer by Quin Humphrey with 4:07 left in the game, but Burleson scored on a tip-in and Wood hit a jumper to blunt the rally.


Brian Radakovich had 24 points and Humphrey had 18 for Youngstown State.
Box Score