“The fact that these guys continue to battle in the second half - I'll take that." –Rob Jeter

It has plagued the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men’s basketball team in each of its games so far this season. The Panthers struggle in the first half and come out strong in the second; Tuesday night was no different.

The same scenario was played out against Sam Houston State: the Panthers dropped their third straight to the undefeated Bearkats, 81-77, at the U.S. Cellular Arena.

When Panthers head coach Rob Jeter was asked how best to fix the slow start, he said, “If I had the answer to that, maybe we wouldn't be 3-3.”

The Panthers came out strong in the second half, dwindling the lead down to just one point five minutes into the second quarter. UWM extended the lead to three after two free throws and a jumper by senior Torre Johnson, who ended the night earning his third double-double of the season with 17 points and 11 rebounds.

“We made some shots early in the game,” said Bearkat head coach Bob Marlin. “Johnson is the best athlete on the floor. He’s a good player but we knew that UWM had been playing good in the second half, so we knew they were going to come back and play hard in the second half.”

Senior Paige Paulsen continued his hot shooting with 25 points and 10 rebounds, keeping the Panthers in the game late in the second. Paulsen and junior Ricky Franklin combined for 10 points in the final three minutes of play to keep the Panthers within two points, but the Bearkats hit four out of six free throws in the final 30 seconds to earn their fourth win of the season.

"It was really just mental mistakes at key times,” said Paulsen. “We continue to hurt ourselves, whether it be giving up offensive rebounds or being out of position down low. Teams capitalize on it, and it has hurt us in each of our three losses."

Whatever it is Jeter has been telling his team at halftime, it is working; the Panthers scored 15 points more in the second half then in the first.

“All I know is that these guys are fighting and these guys are battling,” said Jeter. “No matter what is happening in the first half to us, other than one game, we just come back and keep battling. I'll take that and we'll keep building on that part of it, and eventually we'll get 40 minutes. The fact that these guys continue to battle in the second half - I'll take that."

A loss is a loss, and this one brings the Panthers into Horizon League play with an average record, sitting in the middle of the standings. UWM will need to start strong if they intend on making a run at another Horizon League title.

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