UWM’s shooting, rebounding woes lead to loss to Detroit.

Shooting, rebound woes lead to loss

Detroit — The UW-Milwaukee men’s basketball team was missing two key ingredients for a winning recipe Saturday afternoon. Shooting and rebounding. As a result, Detroit coasted to an 80-66 victory over the Panthers at Calihan Hall.

The Panthers (16-10, 7-6 Horizon League) shot just 32.8% and were outscored, 46-18, in the paint. Meanwhile, the Titans (13-12, 7-7) were lighting it up to the tune of 53.1% from the field.

That made for a very long afternoon.

“We worked hard and battled,” Panthers coach Rob Jeter said. “But the key was not being able to get some of those big rebounds and, obviously, not making shots. That was one of the first games all season where our most consistent guys didn’t have their normal nights. When you put that all together, it gives you one of these tough losses.

“We got to the free throw line, turnovers were fine, but not being able to rebound with them and the points in the paint killed us. Forty-six points in the paint is just too many to overcome.”

The Titans jumped out to an 11-2 lead and cruised to a 44-29 cushion at intermission.

The lead swelled to 18 in the second half before the Panthers got going.

The deficit was trimmed under double figures on three occasions, including at 70-61 with just over 4 minutes left. But the Panthers could never get over the hump.

Cold shooting had a lot to do with that.

Matt Tiby led the Panthers with 22 points on 6-of-14 shooting. His teammates combined to make just 15 of 50 (30%).

“On the first possession of the game alone, we had three shots at the basket,” Jeter said. “We didn’t make it. We had some good looks from beyond the arc . . . didn’t make it.”

Jordan Johnson was the only other UWM player in double figures as he finished with 12 points.

Paris Bass scored 24 points and collected 10 rebounds for the Titans. Chris Jenkins had 17 points and made 5 of 7 three-pointers, and Carlton Brundidge added 16 points and 12 rebounds.