University of Northern Iowa
Chicago State
Panthers Defeat Chicago State, 81-70
11/25/2008 7:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 25, 2008
Cedar Falls, Iowa - Junior forward Adam Koch posted his second career double-double with 17 points and 11 rebounds as the University of Northern Iowa men's basketball team improved to 3-1 on the season with an 81-70 win over Chicago State tonight at the McLeod Center.
Koch hit on 5-of-8 shots from the floor and was 7-for-9 at the free throw line. He was joined in double-figure scoring by freshman guard Travis Brown (season-best 14 points). Forward Lucas O'Rear, playing in his first game of the season, had nine points, 10 rebounds and three assists off the bench. A total of nine Panthers scored in a balanced offensive attack. Chicago State was led by guard David Holston who had a game-high 25 points.
Chicago State jumped to a quick 8-2 lead in the first two minutes of the game, as Mike Wilson hit a pair of three-pointers. UNI responded with a 9-3 run to pull even at 11, and took the lead for good, 15-13, on an O'Rear layup.
Leading 19-17, Moran hit two three-pointers and Brown nailed one as well, during a 14-4 run that extended UNI's lead to 33-21. UNI held a double-digit advantage the rest of the first half, and went into the locker room in front, 43-31.
Chicago State cut into UNI's lead early in the second half, pulling within 46-39 after a pair of Carl Montgomery free throws with 16:34 left. But Eglseder scored inside, Brian Haak drained a three-pointer from the corner, and Koch got the ball inside for a layup to push the Panthers' advantage to 53-39.
CSU responded, as Holston hit three straight three-pointers to get the Cougars to their closest point, 53-48, wit 12:21 remaining. Koch then scored five straight points, including a conventional three-point play, and Ali Farokhmanesh made a finger roll in the lane to push UNI back in front by 12, 60-48. That spurt proved to be the difference, as Chicago State didn't get closer than nine points the rest of the way. The Panthers built as much as a 21-point lead (78-57), en route to the 81-70 win.
The Panthers shot 45 percent from the field, while holding the Cougars to 40 percent shooting. UNI was an impressive 28-for-33 from the line (85 percent), and dominated on the glass, outrebounding CSU by a whopping 47-24 margin. In addition to Koch and O'Rear reaching double-figures in boards, Jordan Eglseder had seven rebounds in just 12 minutes of action, while Moran had five and Farokhmanesh added four.
Tonight's game was UNI's second in the Chicago Invitational Challenge. The Panthers travel to Hoffman Estates, Ill., this weekend for the final two games of the CIC. UNI will face 15th-ranked Marquette at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 28 and Auburn at 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 29 at the Sears Centre.
