MILWAUKEE (1/31/15) – The Milwaukee Panthers made 28 free throws including six in the final minute to escape with a 78-74 win over the University of Detroit Mercy men's basketball team Saturday at UWM Panther Arena.
 
Senior Juwan Howard Jr. led Detroit with 21 points - all in the second half – but it wasn't enough as the Panthers were able to make 28-of-35 free throws to collect their fourth-straight win at home.
 
Horizon League Freshman of the Week Paris Bass finished with 14 points, five rebounds, two assists and two blocked shots.
 
Milwaukee (9-14, 4-5 HL) opened the game with an 18-6 run, before the Titans battled back with a 12-4 run, capped off with five-straight points from Bass, to make the score 22-18 with 6:22 remaining. The Panthers then responded with a 13-9 run to extend their lead to eight, 35-27 with two minutes left, before Detroit closed the half with a 6-0 run to make the score 35-33 during intermission.

Bass led Detroit with 12 points in the opening stanza, while Brandan Kearney had eight.
 
Detroit started the second half with a 10-5 run to take it first lead of the game, 43-40, and was able to extend it to five, 47-42, following a 3-pointer from Howard with 15 minutes remaining. The Panthers responded with an 8-0 run to retake the lead, 50-47, before Chris Jenkins scored five-straight points to tie the game at 52 with 10:27 left.

Milwaukee then opened up a 10 point lead, 67-57, following a couple 3-pointers and some free throws, before the Titans responded with a 10-2 run to make the score 69-67 with 1:50 left on the clock. The Panthers answered with a 3-pointer and six more free throws to get the win.   
 
Detroit (11-13, 4-5 HL) shot 49 percent (27-of-55) overall and out rebounded Milwaukee 34-32, but the Titans were called for 28 fouls compared to 17 against the Panthers, which resulted in a 16 point difference from the charity stripe.
 
Detroit will stay on the road as the Titans visit Horizon League foe Valparaiso on Wednesday, Feb. 4. Tip-off is scheduled for 8:00 p.m. ET at the ARC and will be televised nationally on ESPN3.