University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
*Illinois State
UNI Posts 71-66 Win over Illinois State
2/24/2007 7:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Feb. 24, 2007
Cedar Falls, Iowa - Senior Grant Stout (New Sharon, Iowa) scored a game-high 19 points to lead the University of Northern Iowa to a 71-66 win over Illinois State Saturday night at the McLeod Center. The game was the regular-season finale for both schools, as UNI improved to 18-12 overall, 9-9 in Missouri Valley Conference play, while Illinois State fell to 15-15, 6-12 in the Valley.
Illinois State got off to a 16-9 lead to start the game, as UNI hit just three of its first 14 shots from the floor. Eric Coleman (Maplewood, Minn.) and Stout scored five straight points to pull UNI within 21-19, but the Redbirds were able to go back up 28-22 with 3:59 left after Levi Dyer nailed a trey. UNI freshman Adam Koch (Ashwaubenon, Wis.) answered with a three-pointer of his own, starting a 10-2 run to end the half, which helped UNI go into the locker room with a 32-30 edge. Dyer had 12 of his team-high 17 points in the first half.
UNI never trailed in the second half, but the game was not decided until the final minute. Leading 42-41, Stout had two layups and a three-pointer from the corner during a 13-5 run that helped push the Panthers advantage to 55-46 with just over seven minutes left. Illinois State pulled back within 59-57 after Greg Dilligard completed a conventional three-point play with four minutes remaining.
Travis Brown (Richfield, Minn.) made his only field goal of the game - a three-pointer from the top of the key - to give UNI a 63-58 lead with just over three minutes to go, but ISU's Boo Richardson answered with a triple of his own to get the Redbirds back within two. After a pair of free throws from UNI point guard Brooks McKowen (Fairbank, Iowa) put the Panthers back in front by four, Dyer hit a contested three from the right wing to pull the Redbirds within one, 65-64, with 50 seconds left.
McKowen then calmly drained two more free throws, and Dyer missed a three with 21 seconds left. Jared Josten (Webster City, Iowa) and McKowen each hit a pair of charity tosses in the last 20 seconds to seal the win for UNI.
Coleman had 15 points for UNI and Josten added 13. Brown and Koch combined for 15 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals off the bench.
The Panthers next game will be in the quarterfinals of the State Farm MVC Tournament on Friday (Mar. 2) at Scottrade Center in St. Louis, Mo. Fifth-seeded UNI will face fourth-seeded Bradley (20-11, 10-8 MVC) at 2:35 p.m. The Panthers took both regular-season meetings from the Braves, including a 79-70 win this past Tuesday night (Feb. 20) in Peoria, Ill.
