Butler-Wis.-Milwaukee Preview

2/11/2008 11:04 PM

By KATE HEDLIN
STATS Writer

After reaching its highest ranking in school history, Butler looks to avoid a letdown Tuesday when the No. 9 Bulldogs close a three-game road trip by visiting Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

This is the third game in seven nights for Butler (21-2, 10-2 Horizon League), which has won five straight. The Bulldogs moved up one spot in the polls this week after two come-from-behind road wins last week, including a 62-57 victory at Wisconsin-Green Bay on Saturday.

The Bulldogs shot just 38.9 percent from the field and they trailed early in the second half, but four players scored in double figures and they led by as many as 10 before having to stave off a late rally by the Phoenix.

A.J. Graves scored 16 points on 4-of-11 shooting. He sank six straight free throws over the final 1:27 after Green Bay pulled within five.

With the win, Butler matched its best 23-game record in school history - set last season when the Bulldogs went 21-2 before eventually improving to 23-2.

"We have a lot of confidence in each other. We know what we're capable of doing and we do it in practice and in previous games," Graves said. "We've just got to stay confident and play defense so we keep ourselves in the game when our shots aren't going down."

The senior guard, who was named the Horizon League player of the week on Monday, has averaged 17.3 points the last three games after being held to a combined 19 in the previous three. Graves, who led the Bulldogs in scoring last season and was the preseason Horizon League player of the year, is averaging just 10.1 points in 12 conference games after scoring 16.8 per game last season.

Graves and the Bulldogs look to take advantage of the Panthers' lengthy layoff on Tuesday, as Wisconsin-Milwaukee (12-10, 7-5) plays for the first time since losing 53-51 to Wright State on Feb. 2.

The Panthers shot just 34.5 percent from the field in the loss, their second consecutive loss after winning nine of the previous 10. Wisconsin-Milwaukee squandered a seven-point, second-half lead as the Raiders went on a 17-3 run, and after Marcus Skinner tied the game at 51 with 11 seconds left, Wright State followed up with the game-winner.

I thought it was two teams that battled and really fought," coach Rob Jeter said. "I thought the difference was our inability, for whatever reason, to get to the free throw line. To win on the road you have to get to the free throw line and we did not do that."

Wisconsin-Milwaukee was outscored 10-5 at the foul line. Leading scorer Paige Paulsen was held to eight points - the first time he was held below double digits in 12 games - while Skinner was the only Panthers player to score in double figures with a season-high 16 points and eight rebounds.

Skinner, who is averaging 6.9 points overall, is averaging 13.0 the last five games.

Butler beat the Panthers 72-56 at Hinkle Fieldhouse last month, increasing its overall series lead to 25-9. The Bulldogs, who held the Panthers to just 19 first-half points, have won three straight over Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

Butler's 55-50 road win last season snapped a five-game losing streak at Wisconsin-Milwaukee.