Milwaukee started the Horizon League conference schedule with a gritty, hard-fought 79-67 win over Cleveland State. Milwaukee improved to 6-4 on the year, while the Vikes dropped to 4-6. The Panthers were paced by Kentrell Pullian, Jamicheal Stillwell, and an energetic trio off the bench that saved the game. With the “dub,” Milwaukee remains undefeated at home and will enjoy 5 days off until the I-43 Battle.
The Good:
Pullian led the Panthers with 24 points and 10 rebounds. He also provided the spark throughout the night when the scoring lagged.
Milwaukee won this game at the free-throw line. The Panthers hit 28 of their 37 attempts (75.7%), a massive improvement from the Southern Miss game. Coach Bart Lundy added, “Being in the bonus and not settling for 3’s was the difference”.
Rebounding has been and remains the strength of the 2025 squad. Milwaukee is 6th in the nation in rebounding margin. The Vikings were outrebounded 41-26 and gave up an eye-popping 19 offensive boards.
The primary culprit responsible for the aforementioned rebounding advantage is “The Rim Reaper,” Stillwell. He collected 15 bricks while adding 12 points. KP (Pullian) added 10 bricks from the guard position.
The Panthers turned defense into offense with 19 fast-break points, running past Cleveland State, which only had five. The Panthers’ ability to push the pace after a defensive stop was a game-changing factor. AJ McKee and Themus “FAFO” Fulks continue to orchestrate the transition offense like on-court coaches.
The Really Good:
The difference in the game was the juice supplied from off the bench, thanks to Aaron Franklin, John Lovelace Jr., and Learic Davis. The “Juice Crew” battered and outhustled the exhausted Vikings over the final 10–12 minutes. The arena appeared in a library state for various stages of the game. But these 3 players made every minute count and got the crowd off its feet and back into the game.
The Bad:
The 3-point shooting will eventually come around but that train has yet to arrive. The Panthers shot 5-21 (23.8%) against the Vikes.
The Student Section. The Student Section. The Student Section. A program with back-to-back 20+ winning seasons deserves better. We can’t blame the Packers game or the weather. Hopefully, something will click before the bandwagon support fan if the Panthers make the NCAA tournament.
Analytics: A Perfect 10
- Franklin, Davis, and Lovelace Jr. combined for 10 points, seven rebounds, and nonstop hustle. The “Juice Crew” contributed a combined +/- of +14: Their energy directly coincided with Milwaukee’s ability to pull away in the clutch.
- The Panthers scored the final 10 points of the game to cement the win.
- The Panthers have won 10 of their last 11 games at home.
- KP’s 10 rebounds were the second-most between both teams.
Next Up:
The Battle of I-43 drudge match is next Wednesday at Green Bay.
