KALAMAZOO, Mich. – Despite having three players in double figures the Western Michigan men's basketball team was unable to mount a late comeback in its 71-63 loss to Milwaukee on Sunday afternoon inside University Arena.

Forcing Milwaukee to commit three turnovers in a two-minute span the Broncos trailed by just two with five minutes left after a fast break lay-up from redshirt junior Jason Whitens. However, the Milwaukee defense held the Bronco offense scoreless for the next three minutes as the Panthers gained a 63-57 lead with 90 seconds remaining.

The two teams traded corner three-pointers as WMU's deficit trimmed to six with 45 seconds to play. It was as close as the Broncos got as Milwaukee made five of its final six free-throws to secure the victory.

WMU had three players score in double figures for the second straight game, led by senior Greg Lee with 18 points on 6-of-14 shooting from the field. It was a season-high for Lee and one shy of his career-high. Lee also led the Broncos with a season-high eight rebounds. Lee matched his career-high with three from long distance.

In his first start since Nov. 25, redshirt junior Jason Whitens poured in a career-high 16 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the field with four rebounds. In 33 minutes of action, Whitens was also 1-of-2 from long distance, 3-of-4 from the free-throw line and had one assist. In the last two games against Milwaukee, Whitens had recorded 31 points.

Rounding out the trio of scoring was sophomore B. Artis White with 17 points, marking the fourth game this season White has scored in double figures. White was 5-of-8 from the field and connected on four three-pointers. The Canton, Mich., native also had four assists, one block and one steal.

Off the bench, senior Rafael Cruz Jr. led the way with eight points to go along with six rebounds and one assist. After earning a double-double the day before against Detroit Mercy, sophomore Titus Wright recorded just three points on 1-of-5 shooting from the field with six rebounds.

Overall WMU shot 41.2 percent from the field and was 9-of-21 from behind the three-point line. The Broncos were outrebounded 42-28 with Milwaukee holding a 13-7 edge on the offensive glass.  WMU forced Milwaukee to commit 11 turnovers on
Sunday, converting Panther mistakes into 16 points.

Western Michigan concludes non-conference play with an overall record of 1-4. The Broncos begin their Mid-American Conference slate at home on Friday, Dec. 18 against in-state rival Central Michigan. Tip-off is set for 2:00 p.m. inside University Arena.

It was a strong start for the Broncos as the Brown & Gold embarked on a 10-2 run in the opening moments to grab a 13-7 lead with 15 minutes remaining. Milwaukee clawed back with a 7-1 run to cut the Bronco lead down to one at the midway point of the first half. During the Milwaukee run the Broncos were 0-of-4 from the field went scoreless for nearly four minutes.

WMU responded right back with a 7-0 run of its own to regain the lead before the offense went cold. The Broncos were unable to register a field goal for the next six minutes as Milwaukee grabbed a 28-27 lead with 3:30 remaining in the half. After a last second shot to end the first half, the Panthers took a 40-32 lead into the locker room.

In the second half Western Michigan and Milwaukee traded baskets early before the Broncos went on a three-minute scoreless streak that saw the Panther lead grow to 49-40. Milwaukee made just one of its next eight field goals as WMU was unable to inch closer, trailing 51-42 at the halfway point of the second half.

Senior forward Greg Lee went on a person 4-0 run, highlighted by an and-one to cut the Bronco deficit down to 55-51 with 7:45 remaining. Milwaukee responded with an and-one of its own to push the lead back to seven before Whiten converted a fast
break lay-up to make it 58-53 with six minutes left.

After another fast break lay-up from Whitens, the Broncos cut the lead down to two with five minutes remaining before going scoreless the next three minutes. Training by six with 90 seconds remaining, Milwaukee drilled a corner three to put the Panthers up 66-57. Guard B. Artis White responded with a three of his own to cut the deficit down to six with 45 seconds to play.

Lee knocked down his third three-pointer of the night with 19 seconds left to trim the Panther lead to 69-63 but Milwaukee made five of its final six free-throws to earn the eight-point win.