University of Northern Iowa
Wichita State
PANTHERS POST 65-58 WIN AT WICHITA STATE
1/23/2008 7:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Jan. 23, 2008
Wichita, Kan. - Seniors Adam Viet and Eric Coleman each scored 15 points to lead the University of Northern Iowa men's basketball team to a 65-58 win over Wichita State Wednesday night at Charles Koch Arena.
Viet was 5-for-8 from three-point range on the night - including a perfect 4-for-4 in the first half - with his 15 points being a season high. Coleman grabbed eight rebounds and tied his career best with six assists, while also blocking two shots. Sophomores Adam Koch and Jordan Eglseder added 12 points apiece for the Panthers, who won for the fourth straight year in Wichita.
UNI opened a 7-4 lead after a Coleman layup with 16:23 left, but WSU then went on an 8-0 run to open a 12-7 advantage with just under 14 minutes remaining. UNI stopped the run with back-to-back three-pointers, from Brian Haak and Viet, and retook the lead, 21-20, on another Viet trifecta. UNI extended its lead to as many as seven, 33-26, but WSU ended the half on a 5-0 run to make the score 33-31 in favor of the Panthers at intermission.
Coleman scored the first four points of the second half, on a pair of free throws and a layup, to extend UNI's lead to 37-31. WSU responded, going on a 12-4 run to take the lead, 43-41, with senior P.J. Couisnard hitting a three-pointer to put the Shockers in front. But Viet answered on the next possession with his fifth three-pointer of the game, and UNI would not trail again. Viet's final triple started a 12-0 run that put the Panthers in front, 53-43, with just under seven minutes to go.
After Wichita State got within five, 53-45, UNI freshman Kerwin Dunham drove the lane, scored and was fouled, converting the three-point play. The Panthers were able to push their lead back to as many as 10, and hit 7-of-8 free throws down the stretch to seal the win.
UNI shot 49 percent from the field and made eight three-pointers, its most since connecting on 10 in the season-opener against Northern Illinois. The Panthers also only turned the ball over seven times on the night. Wichita State shot 45 percent from the floor and also made eight threes.
With the win, UNI improved to 12-7 overall, 4-4 in the Missouri Valley Conference, while Wichita State fell to 8-11, 1-7 in conference. The Panthers travel to Des Moines, Iowa, this Saturday (Jan. 26) to face league-leader Drake. Tipoff from the Knapp Center is 5:05 pm.
