The Milwaukee men’s basketball team faced a challenging game against Cleveland State at the Wolstein Center, where they attempted to overcome a significant deficit. Despite narrowing the gap to seven points on three occasions, the Panthers could not secure a victory, ultimately falling 77-60.
The Panthers, with a season record of 16-9 and 9-5 in the Horizon League, reduced their deficit to 51-44 midway through the second half against the Vikings. However, time ran out as they were unable to catch up with Cleveland State, who hold an impressive home record of 26-5 over two seasons and are ranked No. 22 in the latest Collegeinsider.com Mid Major Poll.
AJ McKee led Milwaukee’s offense with 17 points and an efficient performance from the free throw line. Kentrell Pullian contributed 15 points and six rebounds while Faizon Fields added 11 points. For Cleveland State, Tahj Staveskie delivered a standout performance with a career-high of 30 points on effective shooting from both inside and beyond the arc.
Milwaukee head coach Bart Lundy commented on his team’s performance: “They came out and were the much more physical team and we just didn’t adjust and respond in that first half,” adding that uncharacteristic turnovers affected their play.
The Panthers trailed significantly at halftime but started strong in the second half with a 12-0 run initiated by Pullian’s three-point play. Although McKee’s corner triple narrowed Cleveland State’s lead to seven, it was insufficient to turn the tide.
Overall, Milwaukee shot at a rate of 40.9 percent for the game after improving their accuracy post-intermission. They made only three out of twelve attempts from beyond the arc but capitalized on free throws with a success rate of 75 percent. In contrast, Cleveland State shot slightly better overall and forced numerous turnovers that resulted in substantial scoring opportunities.
Looking ahead, Milwaukee will host Wright State next Friday at 7 p.m., concluding their homecoming week activities.
