Nov. 22, 2003

Box Score

MILWAUKEE (AP) - Joah Tucker scored 22 points and Ed McCants had 20, leading Wisconsin-Milwaukee to a 95-83 victory over Montana Saturday night in the season opener for both teams.

Dylan Page added 18 points and Chris Hill had 12 for the Panthers, who were 24-7 last season and earned a first-ever berth in the NCAA Division I tournament by winning the Horizon League tournament title.

Montana, 13-17 last season, was led by Kevin Criswell with 21 points and Kamarr Davis with 18.

The Grizzlies, trailing 50-36 at the half, pulled within 79-72 late in the second half on a 3-pointer by Criswell.

But Page followed with a three-point play to push the lead back to 10 points, and the Grizzlies never got that close again.

The Panthers took control in the first half with a 15-4 run that put them in front 35-22 on a 3-pointer by Tucker with 5:37 left before intermission.

The second half started several minutes late because Montana coach Pat Kennedy slammed the door so hard at intermission that it accidentally locked.

Officials had to use a sledgehammer to break the door open so that Montana could finish the game.