Game #27 – Milwaukee 79, Valparaiso 76
Player of the Game - Tone Boyle had a Senior Night to remember. He collected a collegiate-best 28 points, making 10-of-17 from the field overall and 5-of-10 from three-point range. And, in the end, it was him drawing a pair of defenders that allowed Tony Meier to get free for the game-winner.
Turning Point - Brandon Wood hit a three from the corner to tie the game with a minute left and it looked like Valpo was putting itself in position to pull out a key road win. But, out of a timeout, the Panthers ran Tone Boyle off a curl at the top of the key. Two defenders were drawn to Boyle, leaving Anthony Hill to find a cutting Tony Meier for a layup and foul that pushed Milwaukee back up by three. The Panthers hung on from there to remain alive in the chase for the Horizon League title.
Stat That Mattered - The Panthers turned around the shooting numbers in the second half. After allowing Valpo to shoot 60.7 percent from the floor in the first half, UWM limited the Crusaders to just 44.4 percent shooting in the second 20 minutes. Meanwhile, after shooting just 41.2 percent from the floor in the first half, the Panthers made 14 of their 20 shots in the second half.
The Notebook - Milwaukee has now won seven-straight games, its longest winning streak since the 2004-05 season … Boyle’s 28 points set a new collegiate-high, besting his 27 from the Niagara game in November … Boyle has been in double figures in six of his last seven games since being held scoreless in the first meeting with Valpo … Anthony Hill had 18 points and 10 rebounds for his fifth double-double of the season … the Panthers hit 10 three-pointers … UWM came back from a halftime deficit for the fifth time this season … the Panthers actually trailed by 10 points in the second half, marking the second time in this winning streak where Milwaukee has overcome a double-digit second-half deficit … UWM is now 6-2 this season in games decided by five points or less ... Kaylon Williams injured his shoulder late in the first half and did not start the second half. He eventually returned and played much of the rest of the way ... Ryan Allen was fouled extremely hard on a drive to the basket and fell to the floor. He did not return.
Up Next - UWM heads back outside of league play for a Saturday BracketBusters contest at Buffalo.
