The Milwaukee men’s basketball team secured a narrow 76-74 victory over Wofford on Saturday at UWM Panther Arena. The win was driven by Themus Fulks, who scored a season-high 24 points and made crucial free throws in the final seconds of the game.
The Panthers, now with a record of 4-2, showed strong performance in the second half, shooting 63.6 percent from the field. This victory extended their winning streak to three games and maintained their perfect record in the Cream City Challenge.
Milwaukee’s head coach Bart Lundy expressed respect for Wofford’s program, stating, “The Wofford program, I have so much respect for, and I think as the season goes along, they will be recognized as one of the better mid-majors in the country.” He praised his team’s resilience during challenging moments in the game.
Fulks contributed significantly to the win by going 7-of-9 from the free throw line and making 8-of-13 shots from the floor. AJ McKee also played a vital role with 21 points despite being in foul trouble for most of the game. Jamichael Stillwell added eight points and led with 12 rebounds.
Wofford’s Dillon Bailey and Corey Tripp both scored 18 points each but could not prevent their team’s loss. Despite struggles at the free throw line and missing open shots, Milwaukee managed to make decisive plays towards the end of the game.
Lundy highlighted this perseverance by saying, “It was a test of our will because it was a frustrating game… But perseverance, leadership – we made a bunch of plays down the stretch.”
Fulks’ efforts were crucial in securing Milwaukee’s lead during critical moments. His drive to score at key times ensured that Milwaukee stayed ahead despite Wofford’s attempts to close in on them.
The first half saw intense competition between both teams, with Fulks managing to bring Milwaukee within one point just before halftime. In response to Wofford’s strong start in the second half, Milwaukee staged a comeback with John Lovelace Jr.’s tip-in helping regain momentum.
Overall, Milwaukee shot 45.6 percent from the field while struggling at free throws with only 57.6 percent success rate. They out-rebounded Wofford 40-31 which contributed significantly to their win.
Milwaukee aims to continue its success as they face St. Thomas next in hopes of claiming victory in the Cream City Challenge title match scheduled after Portland State versus Wofford game.
