UNI Nabs First MVC Victory Over Drake, 79-60

Sunday, January 15

Cedar Falls, Iowa

3 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

6-11, 1-5MVC

Drake (rollabanas)

5-13, 3-3MVC

Drake

UNI

UNI Nabs First MVC Victory Over Drake, 79-60

1/15/2017 5:34:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - The University of Northern Iowa snapped its seven-game losing streak with a 79-60 victory over the Drake Bulldogs Sunday in the McLeod Center.

UNI (6-11 overall, 1-5 MVC) saw a pair of 21-point efforts from senior Jeremy Morgan and junior Bennett Koch to lead the way. Koch was a perfect 8-for-8 from the field and 5-for-6 at the free throw line. Senior Jordan Ashton tallied a career-high 17 points and redshirt freshman Spencer Haldeman kicked in 10 points off the bench.

Drake (5-13 overall, 3-3 MVC) was led in scoring by Reed Timmer's 18 points. Ore Arogundade scored 16 points and De'Antae McMurray added 13 points for the Bulldogs.

The Bulldogs led 7-4 after McMurray drained back-to-back three-pointers less than four minutes into the game. However, the Panthers responded with an 18-0 run that gave the home squad a 22-7 lead with 11:31 left in the half. The Panthers would eventually lead by as many as 24 points in the first half following a triple from Jordan Ashton that gave UNI a 37-13 lead. The Panthers took a 45-25 advantage into the intermission. It marked the first time UNI had led at the half since Dec. 7 vs. South Dakota State.

The Panthers attacked early in the second half as Koch tallied a slam dunk on the opening possession of the half and then added an alley-oop stuff from Juwan McCloud on UNI's second possession. The dunks gave UNI a 49-27 lead with 19:01 left in the game. Drake pulled to within 61-46 with 9:28 to go following a Timmer three-pointers, but an 8-0 run by the Panthers put the Bulldogs away.

UNI will stay at home and take on the Loyola Ramblers on Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the McLeod Center. Tickets are available for the remaining six home games on the Panther schedule, which includes $10 adult and $5 youth tickets. Call 319-273-4849 or visit www.UNIPanthers.com/tickets.

NOTES: UNI enjoyed a 14-5 bench scoring advantage vs. the Bulldogs ... UNI won the rebounding battle for only the third time this season and first time since Nov. 17 vs. Arizona State ... UNI is 6-1 when scoring 70 or more points this season ... UNI shot a season-high 56.9 percent from the field, including 63.0 percent in the first half ... UNI has defeated Drake in 10 of their last 11 matchups ... Drake fell to 3-8 in the McLeod Center.