University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
Denver
Panthers Start Season With 71-65 Victory at Denver
11/13/2009 7:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
Nov. 13, 2009
DENVER, Colo. - The University of Northern Iowa men's basketball team opened the 2009-2010 season with a 71-65 road victory over the Denver Pioneers at Magness Arena. The win marked UNI's eighth straight in season openers.
The Panthers had four starters in double figures, led by senior guard Kwadzo Ahelegbe's 18 points. Senior guard Ali Farokhmanesh added 16 points, including a team-high three triples in the second half. Senior Adam Koch pitched in 13 second-half points, which included a perfect 9-for-9 from the free throw stripe. Senior center Jordan Eglseder posted a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds.
Denver opened up a pair of six-point leads in the first half and held the lead until the 1:03 mark when Ahelegbe drove the lane to give UNI a 21-20 lead. The Panthers extended the lead to 23-21 on a free throw by Ahelegbe with 18 seconds left. UNI held the Pioneers scoreless over the final 4:58 of the first half and closed the half on an 8-0 run.
The Pioneers knotted the game at 23-23 when Nate Rohnert scored a layup 19 seconds into the second half. UNI then went on a 10-3 capped by a Farohkmanesh three-pointer at the 17:35 mark.
The game was tied at 49-49 with 7:04 left, but a conventional three-point play by Ahelegbe gave the Panthers the lead for good with 6:13 remaining. The Pioneers would trim the lead to one on two occasions but Farokhmanesh dropped in a pair of three-pointers to thwart the Pioneer rally.
Sophomore Johnny Moran knocked down his only points of the game on a three-pointer with 3:14 left to push the Panther lead to five points. Denver could only get within three-points the rest of the way as the Panthers drained 8-of-9 free throws in the final minute to salt the game away.
UNI's next action will occur at the Paradise Jam in the Virgin Islands on Nov. 20 against DePaul at 12:05 p.m. (Central).
