CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – A key 9-1 run midway through the second half propelled home-standing Northern Iowa to a 72-65 win over visiting Missouri State here Wednesday, snapping the Bears’ four-game Valley win streak.
Nate Heise led the Panthers (13-11, 7-6 MVC) with 17 points.
The Bears (14-10, 6-7) were led by Alston Mason with 19 points, while Matthew Lee and N.J. Benson tacked on 10 apiece. Donovan Clay added 10 rebounds and 3 assists in the game for MoState.
After Benson scored a close-range bucket with 10:17 remaining in the game to draw the visitors within 47-46, the Panthers rode the shoulders of Jacob Hutson who scored seven Panther points during a pivotal 9-1 UNI run over the next three minutes. Hutson’s layup with 7:30 to play made it a 56-47 game.
Lee entered the game after a UNI timeout with just under six minutes to play and made an immediate impact with MSU’s next six points, all at the free throw line. His last charity shots made it a 61-55 game with 4:39 remaining in the contest.
But the Panthers got two threes from Trey Campbell in the final four minutes and sealed it at the free throw line where they made six charity shots in the final two minutes.
For the game, the Bears were 21-of-50 (.420) overall, 6-of-15 (.400) from long range and 17-of-20 (.850) at the free throw line with a 39-33 rebounding advantage.
Northern Iowa finished 24-of-59 (.407) from the field, 9-for-25 (.360) from bonus distance and 15-of-23 (.652) at the stripe with 15 assists, including 4 from Bowen Born who had 10 points for the home club. UNI also had 15 second-chance points on 10 offensive rebounds.
The Bears led by two at the intermission, thanks in part to 7 points apiece from Clay and Mason with some help from 9 second-chance points for the visitors.
In the first six minutes, the Bears pushed ahead 13-5, using a 7-0 run led by Cesare Edwards, Damien Mayo Jr., and Mason who dropped in his only triple of the half during that key stretch. UNI would take a pair of one-point leads after that and tie it on one other occasion, but it was Clay’s driving layup with 36 seconds left in the half that pushed MoState ahead, 32-30, at the game’s midway point.
But UNI’s 8-0 start to the second half set the pace for the home club’s comeback as the Panthers outscored Missouri State, 42-33, in the last 20 minutes.
The Bears return to Great Southern Bank Arena on Saturday to square off with Valley leader Indiana State at 1 p.m. on Hall of Fame Weekend. A number of ticket specials and promotions are lined up for Saturday, including half-price lower-level tickets, free food for students, and an additional Kids Day game.
