In a heated college basketball rivalry that came down to the final seconds, the Milwaukee Panthers secured a dramatic 75-72 victory over UW-Green Bay on February 15, but the triumph was overshadowed by explosive postgame comments from Phoenix head coach Doug Gottlieb. The controversial finish at UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena left one side celebrating a crucial defensive stop and the other fuming over perceived officiating inconsistencies that they believe cost them a crucial conference win in the Horizon League race.
The game's decisive moment arrived with less than 10 seconds remaining and Milwaukee clinging to a narrow one-point lead. Green Bay guard Preston Ruedinger made a strategic decision to attack the basket with aggression, anticipating contact that would typically draw a foul call in such a critical situation. Instead, he encountered freshman defender Stevie Elam, who executed a textbook strip of the ball, effectively ending Green Bay's comeback attempt and preserving Milwaukee's narrow advantage.
Elam's defensive prowess proved instrumental, as he subsequently sank two free throws to seal the victory and prevent what would have been Green Bay's first season sweep of their in-state rivals since the 2018-19 campaign. Milwaukee head coach Bart Lundy praised his freshman's performance, highlighting exceptional physical attributes that made the play possible under immense pressure.
"He had to get that ball pretty clean," Lundy explained in his postgame remarks. "They were driving with force. We had a couple plays before that where it looked like we stopped them and we did get whistled. But Stevie Elam's strength as a true freshman, his hand strength is off the charts; it's probably NFL-level."
Officiating Controversy Takes Center Stage
While Milwaukee celebrated the defensive gem, Green Bay's bench saw the play through a completely different lens. Coach Gottlieb, already frustrated by what he considered questionable calls throughout the afternoon, unleashed a torrent of criticism during his postgame press conference that culminated in a dramatic physical display of his anger and disappointment.
"The last play of the game, just to get the ball they were grabbing us and holding us," Gottlieb stated with visible frustration. "Again, I understand if you're not calling that, that's fine. You had the exact same play at both ends in the last play of the game."
At this point, Gottlieb paused briefly before slamming his fists aggressively into the table before him, punctuating his next words with raw emotion that reverberated through the press room.
"The exact same [expletive] play," Gottlieb yelled. "The exact same play."
The Phoenix coach's frustration had been building throughout a contest that saw his team attempt 18 free throws compared to Milwaukee's 37 attempts—a disparity that became a focal point of his criticism. Gottlieb specifically referenced two pivotal moments: a technical foul assessed against him in the second half with under seven minutes remaining and his team leading by three points, and a loose-ball foul called on CJ O'Hara with 4:25 left and Green Bay up by four.
"I need the new commissioner of the Horizon League to explain to me what a technical foul is when I don't leave the box, I don't curse, I'm not demonstrative," Gottlieb demanded. "There was nothing, nothing that should have been called a technical foul. I know when I earn one. I did not earn one. The CJ play, we're up [four] points, that dramatically changed the [trajectory] of the game."
Milwaukee's Perspective and Key Performances
Despite the officiating controversy that dominated postgame discussions, Milwaukee's victory required overcoming an outstanding individual performance from Green Bay's Marcus Hall. The junior from Schofield, Wisconsin, torched the Panthers for 32 points and seven rebounds, nearly single-handedly willing his team to what would have been a significant road win against their rivals.
Milwaukee's success hinged on two critical factors: free-throw accuracy and the scoring output of Chandler Jackson, who finished with 23 points and provided stability when his team needed it most. The Panthers' performance from the charity stripe proved particularly remarkable given their season-long struggles in that department. Entering the game converting only 68.5% of their attempts—ranking among the nation's worst—Milwaukee drilled 22 of 24 free throws in the second half alone, a dramatic improvement that proved decisive.
The comeback victory was even more impressive considering Milwaukee led for a mere 1 minute and 53 seconds of the entire contest. The Panthers repeatedly trimmed Green Bay's advantage in the closing minutes, cutting the deficit to one point on three separate occasions before finally taking the lead for good with 69 seconds remaining.
Esyah Pippa-White provided the go-ahead points when he was fouled while pursuing a defensive rebound and calmly sank both free throws, giving Milwaukee a lead they would not relinquish. The Panthers' ability to execute under pressure, particularly from the free-throw line, ultimately made the difference in a game where every possession carried immense weight and the margin for error was virtually nonexistent.
Broader Implications for Horizon League
The victory held special significance for Milwaukee beyond the immediate result. Avoiding a season sweep at the hands of their in-state rivals represented a crucial achievement for a program seeking to establish momentum in Horizon League play and improve their positioning for the conference tournament. For Green Bay, the heartbreaking loss and the manner in which it occurred will likely fuel ongoing discussions about officiating consistency within the conference.
Gottlieb's passionate postgame display, while potentially drawing scrutiny from league officials, underscored the emotional investment coaches have in their programs and the frustration that can build when perceived injustices impact outcomes. His call for clarification on technical foul criteria and his assertion that similar plays were judged differently at each end of the court reflect broader concerns about officiating uniformity that resonate across college basketball.
The disparity in free throw attempts—Milwaukee's 37 to Green Bay's 18—will undoubtedly be analyzed by league officials and could prompt discussions about review procedures and referee accountability. Such statistical differences, while not inherently indicative of bias, become magnified in close contests where every possession holds championship implications and can affect postseason seeding.
As both teams move forward in their conference schedules, the ramifications of this contest will likely extend beyond a single entry in the win-loss column. Milwaukee gains confidence from a comeback victory built on clutch free-throw shooting and timely defense, while Green Bay must regroup from a loss that their coach clearly believes was influenced by factors outside his team's control. The Phoenix will need to channel their frustration into improved execution, while the Panthers can build on their resilience and ability to perform in high-pressure situations that define championship-caliber teams.