Box Score (.html) I Box Score (.pdf) I Highlights

MILWAUKEE, Wisc. - Junior #Evan Hall# scored a season-high 20 points and grabbed 10 rebounds for his fourth career double-double as IUPUI outlasted Milwaukee in overtime, 76-71 on Friday night (Feb. 16). T.J. Henderson hit a critical three in the final minute of the game off a nice #Jaylen Minnett# find and D.J. McCall helped the Jags get a late defensive stop to secure the win. Minnett iced the game at the free throw line, hitting three late free throws for his only points of the game.

Jeremiah Bell led Milwaukee (14-15, 7-9 HL) with a game-high 29 points and Brett Prahl posted 22 points and seven rebounds in his final home game. Bryce Nze added nine points and a career-high 17 rebounds for the Panthers. 

"I thought our energy and effort was really good tonight," head coach #Jason Gardner# said. "We fought and scrapped and executed really well tonight. I thought we did a good job of staying composed, even when they took the lead and when they forced overtime. We never really lost our cool and stuck to the gameplan throughout.

"That was the key is that we stuck with got us there. I thought Evan was a monster inside and everyone else stepped up and did their jobs."

IUPUI (9-17, 6-9 HL) led the majority of the game and was up 64-60 with 2:28 left in regulation when #Ron Patterson# buried a three as the shot clock was winding down. Bell responded by scoring the game's next four points to tie the score with 57 seconds left, including a blow by for a layup on the left side in the final minute. IUPUI was unable to get a shot on their next possession, allowing Milwaukee a chance to win in regulation. However, Henderson forced Bell into a tough jumper and #Nick Rogers# chased down the rebound in the corner to force overtime. 

IUPUI scored first in overtime on a Henderson drive and continued to trade buckets with the Panthers until Bell finally gave the hosts the lead. Henderson fouled Bell on a three-point attempt with 1:09 to play and the Louisville-native hit all three attempts to stake UWM to a 71-70 advantage. On the next possession, Minnett drove baseline and instead of forcing a shot, threw a baseball pass to Henderson in the corner, who splashed an open three. After a defensive stand, Minnett split a pair of free throws to make it a three-point lead. 

On the next trip, McCall forced Bell into a contested jumper, which Hall secured on the baseline to essentially end it. 

IUPUI finished at 46 percent from the floor and 6-of-16 (37.5 percent) from deep. The Jags outrebounded Milwaukee 43-39 and outscored the Panthers 48-36 in points in the paint. Eighteen of IUPUI's 43 boards came off the offensive glass, leading to 22 second chance points. 

While the Jags weren't particularly on fire early, IUPUI played with a new found fire in the first half, surging out to a 13-point lead late in the half. Four of the Jags' first seven field goals came from long distance, capped by Henderson's connection at the 13:54 mark. His trey ignited a 15-2 run as six different IUPUI players scored during the rally. 

Milwaukee trimmed the lead to 38-32 by the break, thanks largely to shooting 54.2 percent in the first half. The Jaguars' best offense was simply getting it on the glass and crashing the boards from there. IUPUI snagged 13 first half offensive boards, leading to 13 second chance points. Hall had four offensive caroms while #Maurice Kirby# and McCall had three apiece. 

Henderson finished with 14 points off the bench and Brennan and McCall tallied nine apiece. Hall hit 10-of-15 shots on the inside and also blocked a career-high four shots. 

"I think Ev did a better job of taking his time, being patient and then making his move," Gardner said. "That's what he's capable of. I know he's been a little frustrated, but tonight, he was patient and did a good job of attacking them and attacking the glass.

"I think the week of practice kind of helped us gear up for this stretch run," Gardner said. "We were able to sharpen some and work on some things. We knew we had to come out and fight hard against these guys and then kind of load up for three straight home games. Now we have a pretty quick turnaround, but we have an opportunity to play some good basketball at home going into the conference tournament."

The win gave IUPUI a season sweep of the Panthers and Gardner improved to 3-0 all-time against Milwaukee. 

IUPUI will return home to host Oakland University on Monday night (Feb. 19) at 7:00 p.m. at Indiana Farmers Coliseum. Monday's game is sponsored by Citizens Energy and is SPEA Night at the Coliseum. In addition, FREE IUPUI superhero capes will be distributed to students in attendance. The Avon Orioles Jump Rope Team will perform at halftime to entertain the crowd. Monday's game will be aired on ESPN3 as Greg Rakestraw (pxp) and Bob Lovell (analyst) will be on the call.