Dejected.

If one was forced to sum up last season’s loss to the University of Illinois-Chicago, one of only two losses in the friendly confines of the U.S. Cellular Arena, in one word, dejected fits the bill.

Elated.

That’s the first word that comes to mind when describing the breakdown of the Horizon League first-place Flames last Wednesday night, 76-65.

In a first half that rewrote the record books at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, the home team demolished the first-place Flames in front of 3,312 fans.

Four players scored in double figures in the first half for the Panthers, who improved to 6-14 (3-4 in the Horizon League).

UWM held a 48-25 halftime lead, its largest of the game as well as the season.

Milwaukee was led by star guard Avery Smith, who dropped 19 points on UIC. Smith was joined by Paige Paulsen, Allan Hanson and Ricky Franklin in tallying double-digits. Paulsen paced the Panthers with eight rebounds, and Hanson and Franklin nabbed six each.

The high-scoring home team was 12 of 18 from beyond the arc in the first half, breaking the school record of 11 three-pointers in a half set against Colorado in 2001 and copied against Prairie View A&M in 2004.

Milwaukee walked out of the U.S. Cellular Arena 49-9 in its last 58 home games, tops in the Horizon League over that same span.

“If I didn't say ‘wow,’ I think I might be hiding my emotions a little bit,” said head coach Rob Jeter. “But that first half, I thought, shows the potential of this team. It's one of best halves of basketball we have played.”

To win the game, the Panthers had to overcome a Herculean effort by UIC forward Othyus Jeffers. Jeffers scored a game-high 23 points and pulled down 11 rebounds, and he was the spark that ignited a UIC comeback that had Panthers fans squirming in their seats.

The Panthers return to action on Wednesday, Jan. 27 for the nationally televised showdown with the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay Phoenix. Game time is 7 p.m. at the Cell. Buses from the Union and Sandburg Hall can take students to the game.

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