University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
*Illinois State
Stout, Coleman Lead UNI to 75-55 Win Over Illinois State
1/3/2005 7:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 3, 2005
Cedar Falls, Iowa - Grant Stout (New Sharon, Iowa) and Eric Coleman (Maplewood, Minn.) combined for 31 points and 24 rebounds, as the University of Northern Iowa men's basketball team posted a 75-55 win over Illinois State Monday night in the Panthers' Missouri Valley Conference opener.
Stout hit 9-of-13 shots from the field, scoring a career-high 18 points, and also grabbed a career-best 15 rebounds to post his fifth double-double of the season. Stout also blocked four shots on the night. Coleman hit 6-of-11 field goal attempts and scored 13 points, while grabbing nine rebounds and dishing out two assists.
The game was tied at halftime, 36-all, as each team was clicking offensively in the opening 20 minutes. Stout and Coleman each had eight points at the break, while John Little (Peoria, Ill.) had six apiece. Illinois State guards Trey Guidry and Vince Greene combined for 25 of ISU's 36 first-half points, as the pair was 6-for-7 on three-pointers. Both teams shot better than 50 percent from the field in the first half.
After intermission, the game stayed close until midway through the second half. With UNI leading 50-47, the Panthers then went on a 12-0 run over the next four minutes to pull ahead by 15, 62-47. UNI's inside presence continued to make its mark during that stretch, as Stout, Coleman and Jon Godfread (Grand Forks, N.D.) had eight of the team's 12 points. The Redbirds would get no closer than 12 points the rest of the way.
For the 10th time in 12 games, UNI shot better than 50 percent from the field as a team. The Panthers made 51.6 percent of their field goal attempts (32-for-62), while holding Illinois State to just 38.5 percent shooting (20-for-52). The Redbirds hit on just 23.1 percent (6-for-26) from the floor in the second half.
With the victory - its seventh straight overall and 10th straight home win -- UNI improves to 10-2 and is 1-0 in the Missouri Valley Conference. Illinois State falls to 9-4 overall, 1-2 in conference. The Panthers next game is this Friday night, when they travel to face Evansville. Tipoff is set for 7:05 p.m.
