The Milwaukee Panthers made a statement against Akron in the MKE Tip-Off on Sunday afternoon at Fiserv Form. The Panthers used a dominating first half to roar past the Zips 100-81.
Everything flowed naturally for the Panthers on both ends of the floor. Milwaukee players Erik Pratt, Jamicheal Stillwell and Themus Fulks played extremely well throughout the game, leading the Panthers to the notable non-conference victory.
The last time the Panthers (8-4) reached the century mark in regulation against a Division I team was in a 100-80 victory over Loyola Chicago on Dec. 21, 2002.
“We went into the game thinking that we’ve played some really good opponents in the non-conference,” Milwaukee coach Bart Lundy said. “We thought this could be the best team that we played to date. So it’s a really good win. Good win for our program. Good win for our fans.”
Pratt provided a spark off the bench for the Panthers in his second game back after missing the eight previous games for personal reasons. He nailed three consecutive 3-pointers to give the Panthers a nine-point lead in the first seven minutes of the first half.
His exceptional 3-point shooting stretched the Panthers’ offense, creating opportunities to attack effectively from every area on the court. He finished with 14 points in 25 minutes.
Stillwell showcased elite skills in Sunday’s victory. Whether it was crashing the offensive glass, scoring or getting stops on the defensive end, Stillwell made his presence known.
The junior forward finished 17 points and 18 rebounds for the Panthers after entering Sunday leading the NCAA in total rebounds and ranking third in rebounds per game.
“I definitely feel like I was doubted a lot. I just go out there to play for my team, play to win and do me. I just play my role,” said Stillwell.
Fulks played a wonderful game. The senior guard recorded 23 points, five rebounds and seven assists. Fulks’ ability to score in the paint and get his teammates open looks set the tone for the entire game.
The Panthers held a 58-45 lead at halftime, but the Zips (6-3) didn’t go away. They made it competitive in the second half, keeping it close with an 8-0 run with 11 minutes, 38 seconds left to cut Milwaukee’s lead to 68-63.
But the Panthers responded with 10 straight points to take control and prevail.
The Panthers (8-4) shot 57.8% from the field, including 11 of 19 from 3 for 57.9%. They also outrebounded Akron 46-28.
The victory marked a notable accomplishment for the Panthers. Akron is a strong mid-major program with a solid track record of success.
The Zips have earned NCAA Tournament berths in two of the past three seasons and came into the day ranked 122nd nationally on KenPom.com. This makes them the highest-ranked opponent the Panthers have defeated since their road victory at Iowa State on Nov. 13, 2018.
“In the second half, they made a push,” Lundy said. “We challenged our guys in the huddle and they got seven straight stops after they cut it back to five. I thought that was the difference in the second half.”
Up next, the Panthers play a non-Division I game, as they host North Central (Ill.) at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Klotsche Center.
