UNI Goes OT to Take Down UNLV, 77-68

Wednesday, November 29

Cedar Falls, Iowa

7 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

6-2

UNLV

6-1

OT 1

UNLV

UNI

Photo by: Mike Dunlop

UNI Goes OT to Take Down UNLV, 77-68

11/29/2017 10:15:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score UNI vs. UNLV

BOX SCORE (PDF)

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - The University of Northern Iowa men's basketball squad went overtime to score a 77-68 win over the UNLV Runnin' Rebels on Wednesday in the McLeod Center.

UNI seniors Bennett Koch and Klint Carlson each posted career highs in scoring to lift the Panthers past the Runnin' Rebels in the Mountain West/Missouri Valley Challenge. Koch scored 30 points on 10-of-19 shooting from the floor, while Carlson tallied 23 points on 10-of-22 from the field. Freshman Tywhon Pickford continued his rebounding assault with 12 boards. Pickford has recorded nine or more rebounds in seven consecutive games.

UNI improves to 6-2 on the year, while UNLV drops to 6-1 overall.

The Panthers led by as many as six in the first half and would hold a 34-29 lead at the break. UNLV shot 45.8 percent from the floor in the opening half, while the Panthers made 40.6 percent of their shots.

Koch scored the opening bucket of the second half to open up a seven-point cushion at 36-29. But the Runnin' Rebels would score the next seven to even up the score at 36-36 with 17:28 to play in regulation.

UNI led 52-46 after a basket by Carlson with 11:53 left. However, UNLV would got on a 13-3 run to take a four-point at 59-55 with 3:44 left in the second half. Carlson cut the margin to two on a shot with 2:29 left and then Pickford made one of two at the foul line with make it a one-point game with 1:29 left. UNLV's Kris Clyburn dropped in a basket to give the visitors a three-point lead with 1:13 left.

The Panthers took a timeout and got the ball to Koch on the ensuing play. Koch scored to pull the Panthers to within one at 61-60. The Panthers defense produced a steal from Carlson and Koch led the fast break looking to give the Panthers the lead. Koch drove the lane and fired a pass out to Spencer Haldeman at the three-point arc, but was UNLV's Jovan Mooring was whistled for a blocking foul on Koch with :18.4 seconds left. Koch made the first bu missed the second giving UNLV one more chance to win it.

UNLV's Jordan Johnson' shot in the lane missed off the backboard forcing the game into overtime.

UNI would not trail in the extra five minutes after Carlson led off the scoring with a bucket with 4:15 left in overtime. The Panthers would eventually lead by as many as 10 in overtime and held on for the 77-68 triumph.

The Panthers will be back in action next Thursday (Dec. 7) vs. UT Arlington in the McLeod Center. Tip is set for 7 p.m.

NOTES: UNI moves to 2-1 all-time vs. UNLV ... the Panthers made only two 3-pointers in the game, while UNLV drained seven from deep ... UNI shot 21-of-27 at the free throw line after having not shot a free throw in its previous game vs. Villanova ... UNI scored 48 points in the paint vs. UNLV.