Horizon League Notebook
by Jay Pearlman
UW-Milwaukee made quick work of Loyola-Marymount on Friday, leading from start to finish to win 75-51. Two newcomers led the way, as JUCO transfer guard Tone Boyle (Highland Community) scored 20 (8-14, 4-8 in treys), and 6-8 freshman Tony Meier (St. Louis) scored 14 (5-11, 4-9 in treys) and grabbed 12 boards.
Then on Saturday, the Panthers fell behind to UC-Davis by 24 at halftime, and mounted a furious second half comeback to defeat UC-Davis 81-75. Winning the second half 54-24, Milwaukee was paced by senior guard Ricky Franklin’s 18 (6-9, 4-6 in treys, and available for another season after this one with satisfactory academic progress), sophomore forward Anthony Hill’s 16 (7-14) and 8 boards, and Boyle’s 16 (5-10, 3-6 in treys). Playing his second college game, Meier was once again effective, scoring 12 (5-8, 2-3 in treys) and grabbing 6 boards.
Then came the big game on Sunday, against home-standing Iowa State, a game the Panthers were forced to play without quickly reliable Tony Meier, sidelined with the flu. Playing all game long from behind, Milwaukee trailed Iowa State by as many as 14 in the first half, and by 10 at the intermission. Quickly becoming the Horizon’s comeback kids, the Panthers once again clawed back in the second half, pulling within 4 three different times, the last at 58-54 at the ten minute mark. Alas, sharpshooting ISU would not be had in its own gym, using the three-point shot and a three rebound advantage against undermanned Milwaukee to pull away to a 79-61 victory, along the way setting a school record by making 15 treys. For the losers, Franklin led the way with 14 (4-11, 2-6 in treys) and 6 boards, Boyle had 13 (5-16, 2-7 in treys) and 5 boards, and Hill had 10 (4-11) and 7 boards.
While missing the monster win over Iowa State they’d hoped for, the Panthers come away from the World Vision Classic with a 2-1 record, along with a confidence bred by two huge comebacks, the one without one of their starters falling just short. They also showed off two quality players joining the ranks Horizon newcomers, Tone Boyle and Tony Meier. I guess this writer needs an excuse to get to Chicago for a day or two pretty soon, and once there the time to sneak up the lake to Milwaukee to catch the Panthers.
Horizon News and Notes
- If the game of the weekend in the conference this first weekend of play wasn’t Milwaukee’s comeback win over UC-Davis in Ames, then it was Butler’s hard-nosed opening win Saturday night in nearby Des Moines at Drake, 58-48. In a grinding defensive game, sophomore guard Zach Hahn came off the bench to lead all scorer with 13 (5-9, 3-7 in treys), star sophomore center Matt Howard added 12 (5-12) and 7 rebounds, and both freshmen who excited this writer two weeks ago contributed, Gordon Hayward with 11 (4-8, 3-6 in treys) and seven boards, and Shelvin Mack with 9 (3-7, 1-4 in treys).
And oh yes, Butler also announced this week the signing of 6-9 Andrew Smith, well-thought of from Indiana’s Covenant Christian High School. - Playing without star senior forward Derick Nelson, Oakland University put quite a scare into Cleveland State on Saturday night, leading for 36 and a half minutes Saturday night before falling 58-55 in the Wollstein Arena. D’Aundray Brown kept CSU in the game, leading all scorers with 15 points (7-9) and six rebounds, but CSU’s comeback was energized by the rebounding and relentless second play of fourth-year starter and star forward J’Nathan Bullock, whose 10 boards were far more important than his 11 points (4-12). Now it’s on to Seattle for a first round CBE game at Washington on Tuesday night.
- In other Horizon League action, on Friday night Illinois-Chicago was bested by Bradley 67-61 in Peoria, Detroit was beaten by Purdue 82-50 in West Lafayette, and Loyola lost at home to Rockhurst 86-79. On Saturday, Wright State lost at home to Illinois State 69-61, Youngstown State lost at home to Buffalo 70-62, and Valparaiso defeated NAIA Division II Marian at home 76-56.
