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Page's Career Day Sinks Ramblers

1/10/04
by John C. Thomas
Three Loyola players scored more than 20 points each, but a career day by UW-Milwaukee’s Dylan Page sunk the Ramblers in a 97-87 loss Saturday afternoon at the Gentile Center. The two teams combined for the third highest total points in Gentile Center history as the Ramblers fell to 6-7 overall and 2-2 in conference.

The Ramblers returned home to the Joe after a dispiriting performance against UIC on Thursday night. Perhaps buoyed by the news of the eligibility of freshman forward Blake Schilb, the Ramblers jumped out to a small early lead.

With the score tied at 11, Dylan Page and Ed McCants found their three point shooting range, and the Panthers sprinted ahead on near perfect shooting both inside and outside. Just over ten minutes into the game the visitors had already scored 35 points to the Ramblers’ 19.

But with the Panthers enjoying a 41-24 lead and 5:08 left in the half, Loyola used a full court press and took advantage of the bonus to cut into the Milwaukee lead. The Ramblers finished the half with an 18-7 run to trail 48-42 going into the break.

The Ramblers continued their run to erase a 17 point deficit early in the second half, and tied the game at 52 with 15:57 left to play. But on the very next possession Dylan Page hit a three point shot, and the Ramblers could not keep up with the Panthers’ torrid outside shooting.

Dylan Page led all scorers with a career-high 35 points on 10-14 shooting from the field. The 6’9” 225 pound inside banger was nearly unconscious from behind the arc, hitting on 4 of 6 long range shots.

As a team, Milwaukee shot 60% from the field, 83% from the line, and 50% behind the arc. UWM now has three of the top four scoring performances by opponents at the Gentile Center, topped only by Michigan State’s 103 points three seasons ago.

The Ramblers were led by Paul McMillan with 24, Demetrius Williams with 21, and Majak Kou with 20 points and all four of Loyola’s three point shots. Terrance Whiters also reached double figures with 10 points.

The Ramblers face Butler at Hinkle Fieldhouse on Thursday night, where incredibly, the Bulldogs will be trying to post their first conference win of the year against four losses.