University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
Upper Iowa (Exh.)
Panthers Post 67-39 Exhibition Victory Over Peacocks
10/31/2009 8:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
For post-game reaction check out UNI Athletics on YouTube.
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - The University of Northern Iowa men's basketball squad scored a 67-39 exhibition victory over the Upper Iowa Peacocks on Saturday in the McLeod Center.
UNI was led by junior guard Kwadzo Ahelegbe's 12-point effort and freshman guard Marc Sonnen's 11 points in the triumph.
The Panthers started slowly but defensively kept the Peacocks in check as senior forward Adam Koch's pair of free throws gave the home squad a 9-2 advantage with 13:12 left in the first half. UNI extended the advantage to 22-9 on a transition layup by redshirt freshman center Austin Pehl with 7:25 left in the first half.
UNI opened up its largest lead of the first half at 34-14 after a three-pointer from redshirt freshman forward Adam Koch's. The Panthers went into the intermission with a 36-19 advantage.
Upper Iowa hung around early in the second half and trimmed the UNI lead to 39-31 with 15:11 remaining in the game following a Chris Sullivan layup. But a 12-0 Panther run capped by a miraculous bucket by Johnny Moran gave the Panthers some much needed breathing room at 51-31 with 9:53 left in the contest.
The Panthers took their biggest lead of the day in the closing minute when freshman guard Matt Morrison knocked down a jumper to give the home squad a 30-point lead at 67-37. UNI closed the game on a 28-8 run.
UNI will be back in action next Saturday with its second exhibition game of the season against North Carolina-Pembroke at 12:05 p.m. in the McLeod Center. The game will mark the return of former UNI head coach Eldon Miller, as he serves as an assistant coach under his son, Ben, at UNC-Pembroke.
