Panthers Drop Opener In EuropeAug. 20, 2003
HUY, Belgium - Saeco Huy built a 16-point lead early in the fourth quarter before withstanding a late charge by the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee to hang on for a 75-73 win Wednesday night at the Hall Omnisports de Huy. The first of UWM's six games in Europe nearly saw the Panthers cap off another patented rally, as Ronnie Jones bounced a 50-footer off the back rim at the buzzer that would have won the game. Saeco Huy, the Division II championship in Belgium last season, hung on in large part by making 6-of-6 free throws in the final minute. Dylan Page scored 14 points and Jones added 12 for UWM, which made 22-of-48 field goals and 8-of-13 from three-point range for the game. Jones is the only senior from last year's team on the trip for the Panthers, who are trying to work in five players that redshirted last year. Newcomers for the 2003-04 season are not eligible to make the trip. The game was played in four, 10-minutes quarters and used other international rules, including the 24-second shot clock, the wider line and the extended three-point line. "Defensively, we competed. Offensively, we struggled executing and getting into any kind of a rhythm," UWM head coach Bruce Pearl said. "Our attitude was great in battling back from 16 down. We gave ourselves a chance to win." UWM trailed 66-50 with 9:20 remaining in the game before starting its rally. The Panthers got the lead under double digits at 69-60 on a Page turnaround jumper with 2:03 remaining. UWM then continued its rally thanks to three-point shooting, as a Page three with 32 seconds remaining cut the lead to 71-65. A Chris Hill three brought the Panthers within 73-68 with 18.3 seconds remaining before a Jones three made it 75-71 with 10.2 seconds left. Then, following a five-second call, Jones scored on a follow-up with 3.3 seconds remaining to make it 75-73. Huy then turned the ball over on a full-court pass and Jones tried a shot just beyond half-court at the buzzer, but could not convert. Both teams were sloppy early, with each team turning the ball over three times in the first 2 ½ minutes of the game. Huy then found its stride, racing out to a 22-15 lead after one quarter before extending the lead to 26-15 early in the second period. The Huy lead hit 35-22 with 5:42 remaining in the half before UWM rallied, pulling within 39-32 on a Kalombo Kadima layin and within 41-37 on a Jones three. A James Wright basket with 21.2 seconds remaining brought the Panthers to within 41-39 at the break. Joah Tucker and Kadima added nine points apiece for the Panthers, while four other UWM players had six points.
The Panthers' six-game tour of Europe continues Thursday night when they face Leuven, a Division I team in Belgium. The game tips off at 8 p.m. local time (1 p.m. Milwaukee time). UWM will also play two games in Germany this weekend and two games in France next week.
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