University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
Western Michigan
UNI Improves to 2-0 with 69-63 Win at Western Michigan
11/23/2005 7:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 23, 2005
Kalamazoo, Mich. - Senior guard Erik Crawford (Oakdale, Minn.) had 18 points to help lead the University of Northern Iowa men's basketball team to a 69-63 win at Western Michigan tonight. The Panthers' win snapped a 15-game non-conference home court winning streak by the Broncos.
Crawford hit 4-of-8 shots from the field, including his lone three-point attempt, and 9-of-11 free throws on the night. He added five rebounds, five assists, one block and one steal in 36 minutes of action. Crawford was joined in double-figure scoring by Grant Stout (New Sharon, Iowa) with 12 and Eric Coleman (Maplewood, Minn.) had nine points and a game-high 11 rebounds.
Western Michigan (1-1) jumped out to a quick 15-7 lead, helped by a pair of three-pointers by Derek Drews. After a timeout, the Panthers answered with an 8-0 run of their own to take a 16-15 lead, helped by Crawford and Jacobson who each hit treys. The game was tight the last 10 minutes of the first half, featuring five ties and seven lead changes before intermission. WMU held a slim 32-29 halftime advantage.
UNI (2-0) came out on fire early in the second half, going on a 14-2 run over the first five minutes to open a 43-34 lead. Stout and Coleman combined for 10 of the Panthers points during that key run.
The Panthers never trailed the rest of the way, but Western Michigan made a late push. A three pointer by Brian Snider, his fourth of the game, pulled the Broncos within 63-61 with 1:49 left. But Jacobson answered on the ensuing possession with a short jumper in the lane, and the Panthers were able to hit enough free throws down the stretch to seal the victory. Western Michigan was led by Snider, who scored a career-high 26 points.
UNI next plays Upper Iowa on Sunday (Nov. 27) in the Panthers' home opener. Tipoff from the UNI-Dome is set for 5:05 p.m.
