Box Score MILWAUKEE, Wis. –  The University of Minnesota Crookston men's basketball team hung with the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee early but a 13-0 run to open the second half would lead the Panthers to a 75-54 win. The game was an exhibition for the Golden Eagles, so does not count against the record. Milwaukee improves to 1-1 on the season with the win, as it does count toward their record.

The Golden Eagles were led by nine points and eight boards from Tyler West, Jr. (Sr., G/F, Portland, Ore./Communications). Tim Lubke (Sr., G, St. Paul, Minn./Sports and Rec Management) added eight points, including going 2-of-4 from long distance. Lucas Reller (Sr., G, Lead, S.D./Management) would add six off the bench, including going 2-of-3 from beyond the arc. Sam Howell (Sr., G, Seattle, Wash./Sports and Rec Management) also had six. The Golden Eagles were 19-of-55 for 33.9 percent from the field and were 9-of-19 for 47.4 percent from beyond the arc.

Milwaukee shot 22-of-53 for 41.5 percent from the field and were 12-of-28 for 42.9 percent from beyond the arc. Steve McWhorter led the way for the Panthers with 17 points on 6-of-10 shooting with three treys. Matt Tiby added 12 points and seven boards, while J.J. Panoske and Cody Wichmann each added 10 for the Panthers.

UMC went into the first media timeout tied 5-5 with Milwaukee led by five points out of the gate from West. The Golden Eagles were strong on the boards early, as well, going toe-to-toe with the Panthers, tied 6-6 at the timeout. The Golden Eagles would take the lead out of the timeout, 8-6, following a Derrick Redd, Jr. (Jr., G, Menifee, Calif./Sports and Rec Management) trey, but Milwaukee would quickly counter with a McWhorter three. UMC would get the lead back 10-9 following a West jumper. West would score seven of the first 10 points for the Golden Eagles.

UMC would continue to go back-and-forth with Milwaukee in the first half and would take a 15-12 lead as Lucas Reller drained a three from the top of the circle with nine minutes left in the period.

Threes from Wichmann and McWhorter would give Milwaukee the lead back 18-15 going into the third media timeout of the first half. Another Wichmann trey would give the Panthers the 21-15 lead at the 6:30 mark. However, Lubke would fire back for UMC drawing UMC within three at 21-18. Two free throws from Akeem Springs would give the Panthers a 23-18 lead. Larson would put in a running jumper to draw within 23-20 for the Golden Eagles.

Free throws would give Milwaukee a 29-20 lead with 2:56 remaining in the first half. West would come through on the other end with a running jumper in the lane to cut the lead to 29-22. However, a three from J.R. Lyle would Milwaukee back up 32-22. Free throws from Lyle would make it 34-22 Milwaukee.

UMC would find themselves down 35-22 but a three from Reller as the buzzer sounded for the half would get the Golden Eagles within 10 (35-25).

The Golden Eagles were led in the first half by West with nine points on 3-of-5 shooting from the field. Reller came off the bench for six points, including going 2-of-3 from beyond the arc. The Golden Eagles were 9-of-27 from the field for 33.3 percent and connected on 5-of-10 treys for 50 percent. John Hughes (Jr., F, San Diego, Calif./Management) and West each had five boards in the first half.

The Panthers looked to McWhorter with 10 points on 3-of-7 shooting and 2-of-3 shooting from beyond the arc. Tiby added eight points, including going 5-of-6 from the charity stripe, while J.R. Lyle had seven.

Milwaukee would start out the second half on a 13-0 run to take the 48-25 advantage over the Golden Eagles.  UMC would squash the run with  a Lubke lay-in at the 13:42 mark of the second half to cut the Milwaukee advantage to 48-27. After a Milwaukee free throw, UMC would cut the deficit to 49-29 on a bucket from Alec Koepp (So., F/C, Belle Plaine, Minn./Software Engineering) and would cut even deeper as Brian Enriquez (Fr., G, Lakewood, Calif.) hit a three to make it 49-32. A three from Springs would get Milwaukee back out 52-32. However, UMC would answer back again, this time as Lubke drained a three to make it 52-35.

Milwaukee however would go on a quick 7-0 run to take the 59-35 lead over the Golden Eagles. The Panthers but hold on to their lead but the Golden Eagles kept on fighting until the final buzzer, falling

UMC will return home to face University of Jamestown at 7 p.m. Wed., Nov. 19 at Lysaker Gymnasium.

For more information, visit the Golden Eagle Athletics website at www.goldeneaglesports.com.
 
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The University of Minnesota, Crookston is an NCAA Division II Institution and a member of the Northern
Sun Intercollegiate Conference (NSIC). The Golden Eagle Equestrian team is a member of the Intercollegiate Horse Show Association (IHSA).