University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
Drake
Panthers Use 3-Point Barrage to Down Drake, 69-49
1/22/2011 7:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - The University of Northern Iowa men's basketball squad matched its season-high win streak with its fifth straight victory on Saturday, a 69-49 triumph over the visiting Drake Bulldogs.
UNI (15-6 overall, 6-3 MVC) used a season-high 12 3-pointers and a career-high 14 points from freshman forward Kwadzo Ahelegbe scored a game-high 16 points to lead the Panthers. Drake (8-12 overall, 3-6 MVC) turned the ball over 19 times in the loss.
The Panthers made the most of the Bulldogs' miscues by outscoring the visitors, 34-12, in points off turnovers.
"Our offense was in sync and we took advantage of their turnovers," junior guard Johnny Moran said, after scoring 14 points. "We try to limit teams' opportunities to score and now we've got some confidence with this nice run of wins."
The Bulldogs scored the first five points of the game, but the Panthers quickly wrestled the momentum away with a 13-2 run that gave the Panthers a 13-7 lead with 15:47 left in the first half.
UNI led 22-16 with 4:09 remaining until halftime and then went on a 15-2 run to close the first half. UNI entered the intermission with a 37-18 lead in the scoreboard.
The star of the first half for the Panthers was Rank as he drained a trio of 3-pointers to match his career-high in just the first 20 minutes of the game.
"Chip can really shoot the basketball," UNI head coach Ben Jacobson said. "Tonight he had some opportunities in the first half to do that. Really he hasn't had that many games where he's had the chance to shoot six or seven times and it's tough to get going offensively when you just get one or two shots a game. Tonight he got that chance."
UNI scored the first two points of the second half to finish off the 17-2 run on a basket from sophomore forward Jake Koch, his only bucket of the night.
The Panthers extended the lead to 28 points following a 3-pointer from Ahelegbe for a 54-26 lead with 14:23 remaining in the game. Rank added his fourth 3-pointer of the game on a bank shot from the top of the key with 8:07 to go to give UNI a 61-36 lead.
UNI will host Creighton Wednesday at 8 p.m. in the McLeod Center. Tip is slated for 8 p.m. and the game will be broadcast live on ESPNU.
NOTES: UNI improved to 10-1 at home on the season ... the Panthers have won 25 of their past 26 home games ... Ahelegbe started the 94th straight game of his career, a number which ranks him eighth in the nation in consecutive starts ... UNI came into the game ranked No. 2 in the nation in turnovers per game at 10.3, and the Panthers turned the ball over 10 times against the Bulldogs ... UNI has committed 10 or less turnovers 12 times in 21 games this season ... UNI improved to 2-1 against Division I foes in the state of Iowa - tying them with Iowa and Iowa State at 2-1 in this year's battle for the 'mythical' state title ... UNI has won four straight games vs. Drake ... it's the 21st time in the Lucas O'Rear grabbed two rebounds in the game and now has 501 career rebounds ... O'Rear has also scored 510 career points ... redshirt freshman Tyler Lange scored his first collegiate basket in the final minute.
