University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
Iowa State
Panthers Win Third Straight in Ames, 69-62
11/30/2011 1:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
AMES, Iowa -- Junior Anthony James scored 17 points and sophomore Matt Morrison chipped in a career-high 14 as the University of Northern Iowa men's basketball team defeated Iowa State 69-62 at Hilton Coliseum on Wednesday evening. UNI has now claimed five of the last six contests against Iowa State and the last three played in Ames.
The victory is the Panthers' fifth straight and improves their record to 6-1 on the season.
Morrison and junior Marc Sonnen combined to shoot 7-of-12 from beyond the arc against the Cyclones. Sonnen finished with 12 points. Morrison played a career-high 20 minutes.
Freshman Seth Tuttle nearly registered a double-double, recording nine points and pulling down a career-high 12 rebounds. Junior Austin Pehl scored a career-high eight points in nine minutes of action.
UNI shot 24-of-50 (48 percent) from the field and 9-of-24 (37.5 percent) on three-point attempts. Iowa State was 22-of-52 (42.3 percent) shooting and 4-of-18 (22.2 percent) from beyond the arc.
Iowa State (5-2) jumped out to a 14-4 lead in the game's first eight minutes. UNI responded with a 10-0 run in under three minutes to tie the contest. A three-pointer by sophomore Matt Morrison, a bucket by junior Austin Pehl, another three by Morrison and two free throws by Pehl tied the game at 14-14 with just over nine minutes left in the half.
In all, the Panthers closed out the first half on a 29-14 run and carried a 33-28 lead into the break. Junior Anthony James scored 11 points on 5-of-7 shooting to lead UNI in the opening half.
The Panthers converted seven Cyclone turnovers into 13 points in the first half. After opening the game 1-of-10 from the field, UNI finished the half shooting 13-of-28.
UNI stretched its lead to 44-37 in the second half before ISU answered with an 8-0 run to take a 45-44 lead with 8:58 remaining in the game.
The Panthers and Cyclones traded the lead seven times in a span of four and a half minutes before Sonnen drained a three-pointer to put UNI on top, 55-54, with 4:07 left in the game. The Panthers outscored ISU 14-8 the rest of the way to seal the victory.
UNI returns home to the McLeod Center on Sat., Dec. 3, for a 1:30 p.m. matchup with Colorado State.
