No thrilling moments for Panthers
Crusaders, Peters dominate
There were no lategame heroics needed at UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena on Thursday night.
Alec Peters scored a game-high 22 points and UWM managed just two baskets in a 13-minute, 36-second span bridging the first and second halves en route to a 71-53 loss to the Valparaiso Crusaders.
The Panthers (8-16, 4-7) had gone to overtime in each of their previous three games, winning twice, but trailed from start to finish as the Horizon Leagueleading Crusaders (19-4, 9-1) asserted their dominance in winning their eighth straight.
“They’re in first place for a reason, and we saw why tonight,” UWM coach LaVall Jordan said. “We’ll learn from this one.”
Cody Wichmann scored 17 second-half points to lead UWM, while Jeremy Johnson added 11. It was Wichmann who missed all three free throws in the closing seconds of regulation in the Panthers’ last game on Sunday, setting the stage for an eventual 79-70 overtime loss.
The senior forward went scoreless on just two shots in the first half in this one, as the Crusaders opened a 26-19 halftime lead.
“In the first half they put a ton of attention on him,” said Jordan of his leading scorer. “It’s hard for him to get looks. We tried to use him as a screener, as a passer, move him around a little. But a defensive team like Valpo, they wouldn’t leave him often. There’s pressure on every shot he takes because he doesn’t get open a ton.”
UWM used a 7-0 run to pull to within 21-19 of Valparaiso late in the first half before going stone cold. The Crusaders finished the half on a 5-0 run, then used a 20-4 run out of the locker room to take a 46-23 lead with 11:04 remaining and eliminate any mystery.
“We got some looks that we wanted,” Jordan said. “Some were challenged and then there were some open ones that we just didn’t knock down. I need to do a better job to start the second half there — we didn’t have the flow that we like and that we’ve played with in the past in some games.
“We’ll go back and watch the film and try to adjust as a staff.”
Valparaiso shot 59.1% in the second half and 47.9% for the game, and also enjoyed a 34-24 advantage on the boards. Wichmann hit 4 of 10 three-point attempts in the second half but none of his teammates were able to get it going alongside him.
Brock Stull, the Panthers’ second-leading scorer coming in, managed just seven points on seven shots.
“Brock’s still growing in his role,” Jordan said. “There’s opportunities he has that we want him to take and sometimes he doesn’t. If you don’t take the first one — especially against them — it’s going to be hard to get another open one.”
Peters, the preseason Horizon League player of the year, hit 4 of 5 three-pointers and all eight of his free throws while playing in front of several NBA scouts.
The Milwaukee Bucks were represented by vice president of player personnel Dave Babcock and director of scouting Billy McKinney.
“He’s efficient,” Jordan said. “We didn’t lose him much. But when we did, he made them. He was very patient against the double-team. He’s unselfish. When you’ve been around as long as he has and scored as many points, he knows he’s going to get a lot of attention.
“He was patient, and every time we lost him he made us pay. And that’s what good players do.”