University of Northern Iowa
Valparaiso
UNI Wins Fifth Straight Game, Defeats Valparaiso 67-49
12/31/2004 7:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Dec. 31, 2004
Las Vegas, Nev. - Grant Stout (New Sharon, Iowa) had 10 points, six rebounds and four blocks to help lead the University of Northern Iowa men's basketball team to a 67-49 win over Valparaiso Thursday night in the Las Vegas Holiday Invitational.
The Panthers received balanced scoring, as 10 players scored on the night. UNI shot 46 percent from the field on the evening (26-for-56), and hit nine three-pointers. The Panthers forced 19 Crusaders turnovers, holding Valparaiso to a season-low 49 points.
UNI held a 32-26 lead at halftime, after Ben Jacobson (Sioux City, Iowa) hit a three-pointer at the buzzer. But the Panthers came out and went on a 13-5 run over the first five minutes of the second half to open a 47-31 lead, and were never threatened after that. UNI held Valparaiso to just four made field goals over the first 16 minutes of the second half, during which the Panthers extended their lead to 27 points (67-40).
Erik Crawford (Oakdale, Minn.) and Jacobson each had nine points for the Panthers, while Brooks McKowen (Fairbank, Iowa) added eight.
With its fifth-straight win, UNI improved to 8-2 on the season. Valparaiso fell to 3-8. The Panthers play Northwestern State tomorrow (Dec. 31) at 2:00 p.m. (PST) in their final game in the Las Vegas Invitational.
