The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men’s basketball team rolled past South Dakota State 76-51 last Tuesday in Brookings, S.D., and improved to 3-2 on the season. Boo Davis lead the way with 21 points, scoring all of them in the second half. Joah Tucker added 19.

The Panthers used a dominating 25-8 second-half run to take control of the game. The Jackrabbits were lead by Matt Caldwell, who had 13 points, as South Dakota State fell to 1-6 on the season.

Milwaukee controlled the second half, shooting 53.6 percent and rolling up 45 points. The Panthers patiently moved the ball around the perimeter, which helped contribute to Boo Davis making 6-of-8 three pointers.

“They were doubling the post and I just kept telling my guys to make the extra pass,” head coach Rob Jeter said. “Anytime they’re going to double the post, they’ll have to scramble out, and that’s what it is, a scramble. So if we’re patient enough to make the extra pass and move it around the perimeter, we’re going to get open looks. Then it was up to us to knock them down and Boo definitely started knocking them down.”

The Panthers opened the game by scoring the first 13 points, holding the Jackrabbits scoreless for more than 7 1/2 minutes.

However, SDSU recovered by scoring 11 straight points to pull within 20-18. The Panthers ended the half on an 11-3 run.

In the second half, Milwaukee led by just eight points early on after a 6-0 Jackrabbits run. But then Davis took over, scoring 17 of his points during the 25-8 run, making five three-point baskets in the span. He started with five straight points to build the lead to 46-32 and then followed it up with back-to-back threes for a 54-35 lead.

A jumper by Tucker made it 57-35 before a Davis three opened it up and stretched the lead to 60-35.

“Joah and I talked in the locker room at halftime and he said he was going to get me some open looks,” Davis said. “I took advantage of open shots. I was just reading the screens, seeing where the ball was and getting open shots.”

The biggest plus for the Panthers may have been their defense. Milwaukee held SDSU to just 42.9 percent shooting and forced 25 turnovers while holding second-leading scorer Ben Beran to just five points.

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