University of Northern Iowa
*Drake
McKowen Leads UNI to 91-72 Win Over Drake
1/21/2006 7:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 21, 2006
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Cedar Falls, Iowa - Junior point guard Brooks McKowen (Fairbank, Iowa) tied his career high with 24 points, while adding six assists, to lead the University of Northern Iowa to a 91-72 win over Drake in front of a crowd of 9,323 at the UNI-Dome.
McKowen was a perfect 8-for-8 from the field, including 4-of-4 from three-point range, and hit 5-of-6 from the free throw line. All five Panthers starters scored in double figures, as McKowen was joined by Grant Stout (New Sharon, Iowa) and John Little (Peoria, Ill.) with 14 each, and Eric Coleman (Maplewood, Minn.) with 10.
The Panthers shot a season-best 66.7 percent from the field (30-for-45), including 12-for-20 from three-point range. In the second half, the Panthers made an impressive 14-for-18 shots from the floor (77.8 percent). The 91 points scored by the Panthers were a season high.
After Drake jumped out to a 10-6 lead in the game's first four minutes, UNI went on a 21-2 run over the next seven minutes to take control, 27-12. Stout, Little and Travis Brown (Richfield, Minn.) each drained a three-pointer during that decisive run. Drake pulled to within six, 36-30, after a put-back by Ajay Calvin, but Brown nailed another trey on the ensuing possession to stem the tide. The Panthers held a 44-34 lead at halftime.
The Panthers held a double-digit lead throughout most of the second half. Drake pulled to within seven, 57-50, with 11:44 left in the game after a conventional three-point play by Calvin. But that sparked a 20-5 run by the Panthers over the next four minutes that put the game away.
The crowd 9,323 was the 11th-largest ever to witness a basketball game in the UNI-Dome, and was the largest ever to watch a non-Iowa or Iowa State game in the Dome.
With the win, UNI (17-3, 7-2 Missouri Valley Conference) moves into sole possession of first place in the MVC. Drake falls to 11-9 overall, 4-5 in league play. The Panthers are next in action Wednesday, Jan. 25 when they travel to take on Evansville. Tipoff from Roberts Stadium is set for 7:05 p.m.
