Feb. 19, 2005

HONOLULU (AP) - Ed McCants scored 20 points and Adrian Tigert added 19 as Wisconsin-Milwaukee defeated Hawaii 87-81 Saturday afternoon.

The game was one of 11 games played for ESPN's Bracket Buster Saturday.

The Panthers (21-5) used an early run in the second half to build a 13-point lead and then withstood a furious comeback by the Rainbow Warriors (14-8) midway through the half.

After McCants hit three straight 3-pointers for a 50-37 lead, Hawaii cut it down to six with a 10-3 run.

The Panthers extended their lead back out to 13, but the Rainbow Warriors made one last comeback with a 12-3 run that made it 69-66 on Julian Sensley's putback with 6:39 remaining.

Wisconsin-Milwaukee scored the next five points as Hawaii managed just four more field goals the rest of the game.

Matt Gibson scored 26 points to lead Hawaii, while Jeff Blackett added 12.

Hawaii led for most for the first half until Tigert's 3-pointer with five minutes remaining ignited a 12-2 run. Another 3 by Tigert gave the Panthers its first lead of the game at 26-25 with just under four minutes remaining, and UWM held the lead heading into halftime at 34-32.