University of Northern Iowa
*Missouri State
UNI Posts 72-62 Win at Missouri State
1/7/2006 7:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 7, 2006
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) - Springfield, Mo. - Ben Jacobson (Sioux City, Iowa) scored a game-high 21 points, and three other players reached double figures in scoring, as the University of Northern Iowa men's basketball team posted a 72-62 win over Missouri State Saturday night at the Hammons Student Center.
Jacobson was joined in double figure scoring by senior guard Erik Crawford (Oakdale, Minn.) who had 15 points and tied his career high with 12 rebounds; sophomore center Eric Coleman (Maplewood, Minn.) with 13; and junior point guard Brooks McKowen (Fairbank, Iowa) with a season-high 10.
The first half was a see-saw affair, featuring 10 ties and nine lead changes. Neither team led by more four points in the first 20 minutes. Crawford had nine of his 15 before intermission. Neither team could find the range from long-distance, as the two clubs combined for 4-of-21 shooting from behind the arc. The Panthers took a 31-30 lead into the locker room, as McKowen hit a 10 footer from just outside the right side of the lane right before the horn.
UNI took the lead for good, 47-44 with 11:19 left, as Jacobson scored on a backdoor layup and was fouled on the play, converting the free throw. The Bears maintained contact, and were within two, 59-57, with less than five minutes remaining. But UNI responded on back-to-back possessions, as Jacobson converted another conventional three-point play, and McKowen nailed a trey from the right win with the shot clock running down to give the Panthers a 65-57 lead and effectively seal the game.
Jacobson was especially hot down the stretch, as he scored 11 of his 21 points in the game's final six minutes. McKowen had eight of his 10 after halftime, nailing two three-pointers.
For the game, UNI connected on 48.1 percent of its shots, including 59.1 percent (13-for-22) in the second half. The Panthers held Missouri State to just 38.1 percent shooting on the night, 5-of-20 on threes. UNI also held MSU, which was averaging 85.8 points per game on the season, to its lowest total of the season at home. The Bears previous low at Hammons Student Center this year was 84 points.
With the win, UNI improves to 14-2 overall, 4-1 in Missouri Valley Conference play. Missouri State falls to 10-3 overall, 3-2 in conference. The Panthers are next in action on Wednesday (Jan. 11) when they host Creighton in the UNI-Dome. Tipoff is 7:05 p.m.
