The UW-MIlwaukee Panthers have won a season-high three straight games, and it's been the effort on the defensive end that's paved the way.
UWM held Cleveland State to just six field goals in the first half and 34% shooting overall while also establishing a new season best for points allowed en route to a 70-47 matinee victory on Saturday at UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena.
None of the Panthers' last three opponents has shot even 40% from the field, marking the first time they've locked down that well on the defensive end in more than two years.
Horizon League leader Wright State shot 38.7% in being upset by UWM a week ago to start the Panthers' winning streak, and then Youngstown State was limited to 31.7% on Thursday.
Saturday's performance was a continuation of what's becoming a positive trend in coach Pat Baldwin's eyes.
"To play the way we have the last three games defensively, we're getting to how I want to play on that end where we're making it difficult on opponents to score," said Baldwin.
"The guys at the top, they're really taking on the challenge of doing all it takes at the point of attack with guarding the ball. Our big guys are doing a great job, our help defense is getting much better, and we have to continue that."
Cleveland State (5-18, 2-8 Horizon League) came in having scored just 44 points and shot 27.7% in a loss at Green Bay two days earlier, and UWM was more than happy to continue the Vikings' offensive struggles.
Getting solid effort from everyone in Baldwin's eight-man rotation, the Panthers allowed just two field goals and four points over the final 8 minutes 30 seconds of the first half. A quick 12-0 run capped by consecutive three-pointers from Brock Stull sent UWM (12-12, 5-6) into halftime with a 28-16 lead.
Cleveland State scored nine of the first 12 points out of the locker room to open the second half, but UWM eventually regained its defensive footing and steadily pulled away from there.
The Panthers' 12 victories are one more than they managed all of last year, when they closed out the regular season on a nine-game losing streak before winning three straight in the Horizon League Tournament and advancing to the championship game.
"With winning, obviously your guys build up confidence and feel good about themselves," Baldwin said. "I think that's where the momentum is coming from, and wanting it more. I constantly preach to our guys about staying hungry and not letting up.
"This is the case right now — our guys want so much more, and they're starting to get that feeling of how to win and what it takes to win and they push even harder."
Bryce Nze recorded his third double-double, scoring a season-high 18 points to go along with 11 rebounds, and Bryce Barnes had his second-most productive game offensively with 14 points.
Stull added 12 points, seven rebounds and four assists for UWM, which will seek to run its winning streak to four games on Monday when it hosts Illinois-Chicago.