Milwaukee senior guard Kentrell Pullian finished with 19 points in the team's win over Akron on Sunday at Fiserv Forum. Photo by Stella Nastulski, Mid-Major Basketball.
Milwaukee made a statement on Sunday afternoon. The Panthers picked up a quality non-conference victory with a 100-81 rout over Akron in the MKE Tip-Off at Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee.
Milwaukee senior guard Themus Fulks scored a game-high 23 points. Junior forward Jamichael Stillwell had 17 points and 18 rebounds for the Panthers after entering Sunday leading the NCAA in total rebounds and ranking third in rebounds per game.
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 last time the Panthers reached the century mark in regulation against a Division I team was in a 100-80 victory over Loyola Chicago on Dec. 21, 2002.
Akron (6-3) 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.
“We went into the game thinking that we’ve played some really good opponents in the non-conference, but we thought this could be the best team that we played to date,” Milwaukee coach Bart Lundy said. “It’s a really good win. Good win for our program. Good win for our fans.”
Milwaukee senior guard Kentrell Pullian warms up before the Panthers’ game against Akron on Sunday at Fiserv Forum. He finished with 19 points. Photo by Stella Nastulski, Mid-Major Basketball.Milwaukee junior guard John Lovelace during the national anthem against Akron on Sunday at Fiserv Forum. He finished with 19 points. Photo by Stella Nastulski, Mid-Major Basketball.Danilo Jovanovich (24), AJ McKee (5), Jamichael Stillwell (3), Themus Fulks (1) and Kentrell Pullian (4) during Milwaukee’s game against Akron on Sunday at Fiserv Forum. Photo by Stella Nastulski, Mid-Major Basketball.Milwaukee guard Erik Pratt has delivered a significant boost off the bench in the last two games following an extended absence. His sharp 3-point shooting has added a much-needed perimeter threat, helping the Panthers space the floor offensively. Pratt showcased his impact with 14 points on an efficient 4 of 5 from beyond the arc in 25 minutes. Photo by Stella Nastulski, Mid-Major Basketball.Milwaukee sophomore Simeon Murchison cheers on his teammates during the team’s victory over Akron. Murchison is out for the year with an injury. Photo by Stella Nastulski, Mid-Major Basketball.Milwaukee senior guard Themus Fulks scored a game-high 23 points. Photo by Stella Nastulski, Mid-Major Basketball.Bart Lundy has turned around the Milwaukee program in his three years at the helm. Sunday’s victory marks the highest-ranked opponent the Panthers have defeated since their road victory at Iowa State on Nov. 13, 2018. Photo by Stella Nastulski, Mid-Major Basketball.Milwaukee senior guard AJ McKee finished with 14 points in the Panthers’ victory over Akron. Photo by Stella Nastulski, Mid-Major Basketball.Junior forward Jamichael Stillwell had 17 points and 18 rebounds for the Panthers after entering the Sunday leading the NCAA in total rebounds and ranking third in rebounds per game. Photo by Stella Nastulski, Mid-Major Basketball.
Stella Nastulski is a junior attending the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, studying Journalism, Advertising and Media studies. Nastulski has enjoyed creating content for local teams, including Milwaukee Area Technical College’s men’s basketball team and other University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee athletics teams. She specializes in photography and social media management. Follow Nastulski on X (Twitter) @stellanastulski.
[…] Here are some of the top sights and moments from a full day of hoops at the Fiserv Forum. View a full photo gallery from the Milwaukee, Akron matchup here. […]
[…] 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 […]
[…] Here are some of the top sights and moments from a full day of hoops at the Fiserv Forum. View a full photo gallery from the Milwaukee, Akron matchup here. […]
[…] 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 […]