Jan. 21, 2005
Contact: Brian McCann
MILWAUKEE, Wis. - Joah Tucker and Ed McCants combined for 39 points, including 23 points in the first half, as UW-Milwaukee upended Cleveland State, 85-65 in U.S. Cellular Arena.
Tucker scored a game-high 22 points, connecting on eight-of-11 field goals, while McCants went six-of-nine from the field for 17 points. Raheem Moss was the only Viking to score in double figures, finishing with 12 points and a career-high eight rebounds.
Omari Westley, who entered the game averaging 21.4 points in the league play this year, was limited to just two-of-seven shooting, finishing with nine points and seven rebounds.
"UWM went into this game intent on taking Omari out of the game offensively and they accomplished that by doubling and tripling him whenever he was near the ball," head coach Mike Garland said.
"They showed why they are the team to beat in this league this year. The are very talented offensively with a deep bench. Their experience really showed."
The Panthers scored seven points in the opening minute of the game and never trailed, building a 45-27 halftime lead. The Vikings came as close as 14 points early in the second half before the Panthers pulled away, leading by as many as 28 (76-48) in the second half.
The Vikings received some solid efforts inside by Justin Henderson and Frashon McGee. Henderson, who had scored just one point in the previous two games, came off the bench to score nine points with a career-high eight rebounds while McGee, who started his fourth straight game at center, scored eight points.
"I saw some pretty good signs tonight," Garland added. "I thought that our bench played pretty well and that we didn't give up. We competed hard for all 40 minutes and rebounded well."
With Moss, Henderson and Westley combining for 23 rebounds, CSU held a 42-37 edge on the boards, pulling down 16 offensive rebounds. The Viking bench outscored UWM, 26-20, including nine second half points from freshman Steve Gansey.
The game brought to an end a streak of 33 straight starts by sophomore Victor Morris, who was limited in practice all week after injuring his shoulder late in the UIC game last Saturday. Morris played 18 minutes off the bench, scoring six points.
Senior guard Walt Chavis replaced Morris in the starting lineup and handed out a season-high matching seven assists. The effort allowed him to move past Jermaine Robinson and into ninth place on the CSU career assists list with 331.
The loss dropped the Vikings to 4-10 on the year, including a 1-5 mark in Horizon League play. UW-Milwaukee won its sixth straight game to improve to 13-4 overall and 7-1 in league play.
The Vikings end a stretch that has had them play nine out of 10 games over a five week span on the road when CSU travels to Youngstown State for a 7:00 p.m. game on Saturday (January 22).
