University of Northern Iowa
Missouri State
Panthers Defeat Missouri State, 70-55
1/20/2008 7:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 20, 2008
Cedar Falls, Iowa - Senior center Eric Coleman scored a game-high 15 points, and four other Panthers scored in double-figures, to lead the University of Northern Iowa men's basketball team to a 70-55 win over Missouri State Sunday afternoon at the McLeod Center.
Coleman hit 7-of-9 shots from the field for the game, tallying his 15 points in just 19 minutes of action. Sophomore Jordan Eglseder came off the bench to add 11 points and seven rebounds, while Adam Koch, Jared Josten and Adam Viet each scored 10 points for UNI.
Eglseder pulled the Panthers even at 11-all with 13:26 left in the first half, starting a 9-0 UNI run. Koch scored on a conventional three-point play and freshman Jon Montgomery nailed a three-pointer from the right wing during that stretch. The Bears pulled within 25-23 with 2:32 left in the half after a deep three from Shane Laurie, but Brown hit a pair of free throws and a short jumper in the lane to push the Panthers back in front by six. UNI held a 29-25 lead at intermission.
MSU's Spencer Laurie hit a trey to open the second half, getting the Bears within 29-28. But Coleman followed with a layup, Josten hit a trey from the left wing, and Koch scored on a three-point play during an 8-0 run that extended its lead to 39-28. UNI kept the Bears at bay the rest of the way, as MSU never got closer than nine points. The Panthers shot a sizzling 66.7 percent in the second half (12-for-18) and was 15-for-20 from the free throw line after halftime.
For the game, the Panthers shot a season-best 57.5 percent from the field (23-for-40), while holding Missouri State to just 31.1 percent shooting (19-for-61). UNI also held a commanding 41-28 edge in rebounds.
UNI improved to 11-7 overall, 3-4 in the Missouri Valley Conference, while Missouri State fell to 10-9, 3-4. The Panthers travel to face Wichita State this Wednesday (Jan. 23), with tipoff set for 7:05 pm.
