March 6, 2009

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - Cory Cooperwood scored 14 points and Cooper Land added 13 as Wright State claimed an 80-70 win over the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Friday night in the second round of the Speedway Horizon League Men's Basketball Championship at Hinkle Fieldhouse.

Wright State took control of the game with a 15-2 run to start the second half, with UWM never getting closer than seven points after that.

The Raiders (20-12) made 12-of-18 from three-point range and shot 53.2 percent overall in advancing to Saturday's semifinal action against top-seeded Butler.

Avery Smith and Deonte Roberts scored 15 points apiece for Milwaukee (17-14), which rallied to tie the game at halftime but never got on track in the second half. Ricky Franklin and Jason Averkamp added 10 points apiece.

The Panthers trailed by as many as 14 points in the first half before fighting back.

UWM actually had two surges in the first 20 minutes. Milwaukee trailed 26-14 at one point but fought back within 26-21. Then, after Wright State pushed back out to a 37-23 lead, the Panthers ended the half on a 16- 2 run. Averkamp had seven points during the burst, while a basket by Smith just before the horn brought Milwaukee into a 39-all tie.

But, Wright State wasted little time in regaining control in the second half. Back-to-back three-pointers from Land made it 54-41 with 15:11 remaining and the Raiders eventually pushed their lead to 59-45 with 10 minutes to play.

Milwaukee did cut the lead to seven on a basket by Roberts with 7:32 left, but the Raiders quickly restored a 70-56 advantage. The Panthers again got back within seven at 73-66 on a Boyle three with 1:57 remaining, but Milwaukee could never get any closer.