FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mark Albanese, Assistant Athletic Director for Sports Media Relations

Box Score

SOMERS, Wis. (Nov. 29, 2014)-- The University of Wisconsin-Parkside men's basketball squad was unable to close out Walsh University on Saturday afternoon as the visiting Cavaliers spoiled the Rangers' home opener 80-79 inside DeSimone Gymnasium. UW-Parkside had three players finish in double figures in a game the Rangers trailed for a total of just 75 seconds.

A Jordan Mach three-pointer with 16:26 remaining gave the homestanding Rangers (4-1) their largest buffer of the afternoon, swelling the lead to 12 points at 50-38. The Cavaliers (4-0) scored the next five points to close the gap to single digits but the Parkside advantage ballooned back up to double digits, owning a 67-56 edge with 6:44 left after Mohamed Mohamed drained a trey. Walsh fought back, utilizing a 7-0 spurt to close within four points with just over five minutes left. The Cavaliers tied the game at 70-70 with 3:46 remaining before staking its first lead of the contest off a Rian Burrell jumper with 2:38 left for the 73-72 edge.

Jimmy Gavin drilled a three with 1:40 left to swing the lead back to the Rangers but Walsh again countered with a three the old fashioned way as Jeff Copeland hit a shot and the ensuing free throw for a 77-76 lead with 61 ticks left. Gavin made four straight free throws to give UW-Parkside a 79-77 lead with 28 ticks left but Copeland struck again with nine seconds left, converting another three-point play to give the visitors the 80-79 edge. The Rangers misfired on a three with six seconds left and another shot as time expired as the Cavaliers held on for the win, snapping the Rangers' home winning streak at 12 games.

UW-Parkside never trailed in the opening half, owning a 42-33 buffer at the halftime break.

Zygimantas Riauka paced the Rangers with 18 points and seven rebounds while Gavin added 18 points, five assists, and four steals. Andy Mazurczak was the third Ranger in double figures, netting 14 points while Mach finished with nine.

Walsh's Jesse Hardin Jr. turned in a game-high 22 points while Copeland finished with a double-double of 21 points and 11 boards. Rian Burrell added 17 for the Cavs while Trey Fletcher had 12 points.

UW-Parkside shot a red-hot 60.6 percent (20-for-33) from the floor in the first 20 minutes, finishing the contest shooting 54.2 percent (32-for-59) overall. Walsh canned 65.5 percent (19-for-29) of its chances in the second half, ending the game shooting 53.6 percent (30-for-56).

UW-Parkside owned a 40-28 edge in points in the paint and owned an 18-2 advantage in bench production in a game featuring five lead changes and seven ties.

The Rangers continue their homestand on Wednesday night, welcoming Cardinal Stritch University to DeSimone for a 7 p.m. tipoff.