University of Northern Iowa
Bradley
UNI Advances to Second Straight MVC Title Game With 57-40 Triumph Over Bradley
3/6/2010 7:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
ST. LOUIS, Mo. - The University of Northern Iowa men's basketball team advanced to its second consecutive State Farm Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball tournament championship game with a stifling defensive effort against the Bradley Braves, 57-40.
The Panthers (27-4 overall) limited its second straight MVC Tournament opponent to 40 points in advancing to the school's fourth appearance in the championship game. UNI won MVC Tournament titles in 2004, 2009. UNI won its quarterfinal over Drake, 55-40, and followed it up with a 57-40 triumph over Bradley. UNI is ranked No. 2 in the nation in scoring defense and lowered its season mark to 54.4 after Saturday's performance.
UNI was led in scoring by senior center Jordan Eglseder and freshman guard Marc Sonnen with 10 points apiece. Andrew Warren led Bradley with a game-high 12 points.
The Panthers never trailed in the game and wasted little time entering the scoring column when senior guard Ali Farokhmanesh scored off the opening tip only four seconds into the game. Farokhmanesh added a 3-pointer with 19:26 left in the game to up the margin to 5-0. UNI kept the pedal down and pushed the lead to 19-6 with 11:50 left in first half after redshirt freshman guard Anthony James drained a jumper.
Bradley's Andrew Warren made a layup with 7:06 left in the half and finished off the conventional 3-point play with a free throw. Following that field goal, Bradley did not register a field goal the rest of the first half. Bradley's next field goal came with 17:56 left in the game on another layup by Warren. It marked the second straight game that UNI did not allow a field goal in the final seven minutes of the first half - UNI held Drake scoreless the final 7:59 of Friday's quarterfinal.
The Panthers played a nearly flawless first half by committing only two turnovers, while forcing the Braves into 10 miscues. UNI held Bradley to 28.6 percent shooting in the first half and only six made field goals, while the Panthers made 14-of-30 shots (46.7 percent).
UNI's second-half lead grew to as many as 24 points at 50-26 with 9:58 left on the clock. The Panthers grabbed nine offensive rebounds in the second half and managed 13 for the game.
UNI will play the winner of the Illinois State-Wichita State game in the championship Sunday on CBS at 1 p.m. (Central).
NOTES: Adam Koch tied Eric Coleman for the most games played in UNI history with 128 ... Marc Sonnen has seen action in all 31 games this season and has made more than two shots on two occasions (vs. North Dakota - 21 pts. and today vs. Bradley - 10 pts.) ... it's the first time in MVC history that a team has held back-to-back opponents to 40 or fewer points ... UNI's Anthony James scored a career-high eight points ... UNI is ranked No. 2 in the nation in scoring defense and lowered its season mark to 54.4 after Saturday's performance ... The Panthers' lead shrunk to no fewer than nine points from the 7:06 mark of the first half until the final buzzer.
