MILWAUKEE - The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee men's basketball team will face Niagara University in this season's BracketBuster matchup, the Horizon League announced today.

The Panthers and Purple Eagles will play Sat., Feb. 20, at 7 p.m. at the U.S. Cellular Arena.

The Panthers (13-10, 5-6 Horizon) are part of a large group of teams battling for position in the Horizon League behind unbeaten Butler. In fact, six teams have between four and six league losses, with UWM facing key road contests against three of those teams over the next two weeks.

Ricky Franklin leads the Milwaukee attack at 15.1 points per game, while  James Eayrs pitches-in with 12.0 points per contest.

Milwaukee has been without all-league guard Tone Boyle all season. The senior is redshirting because of a back injury and will return in the 2010-11 campaign. This past weekend, UWM found itself even more shorthanded, as Deonte Roberts missed both games because of academic eligibility issues while Tony Meier did not play Sunday because of an ankle injury.

Niagara (12-12, 5-7) is a member of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference and advanced to the title game of its league tournament a season ago, winning 26 games in the process. This year, the Purple Eagles have four players averaging in double figures and a fifth contributing 9.6 points per contest. They have gone 3-7 in the last 10 games after a strong 9-5 start.

This is the eighth year UWM is participating in the BracketBusters event. The BracketBusters event also includes a return game for the Panthers at Niagara. Previously, return games were guaranteed for the following season, but return games for this year's BracketBusters event can take place either next season or during the 2011-12 campaign.

UWM's BracketBusters History
2003 - Milwaukee lost at Southern Illinois (66-64) on ESPN2
2004 - Milwaukee lost at home to Manhattan (83-76) on ESPN
2005 - Milwaukee won at Hawai'i (87-81) on ESPN2
2006 - Milwaukee lost at home to Missouri State (72-63) on ESPN2
2007 - Milwaukee lost at Drake (84-76) in a non-televised game
2008 - Milwaukee lost at Bradley (84-72) on ESPN360
2009 - Milwaukee lost at home to North Dakota State (77-69) in a non-televised game