University of Northern Iowa
Milwaukee
UNI Wins Its 8th Straight With 67-51 Win over Milwaukee
12/10/2011 1:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - The University of Northern Iowa men's basketball team won its eighth straight game with a 67-51 win over the Milwaukee Panthers on Saturday in the McLeod Center in frontof 4,067 fans.
UNI (9-1 overall) used a game-high 21 points from Jake Koch and 14 offensive rebounds to hold off the visiting Milwaukee Panthers (8-2 overall).
Milwaukee was led by Cedar Rapids' native Kaylon Williams, who tallied 16 points in a losing cause.
"Both teams play man-to-man defenses and Milwaukee defended our actions where we've had success," UNI head coach Ben Jacobson said about the defensive struggle. "That forces us into late ball-screens and late shot clock with slows the game down, but the pace is also a result of two good teams playing well."
UNI enjoyed a 33-28 rebounding advantage, which included a season-high 14 offensive rebounds.
"Rebounding is something we've talked about all year long," Jacobson said. "It had a real impact on the game. We got good reads and got the right spots. The defense will look better when you rebound the basketball."
UNI held the UWM Panthers to only 18 first half points as Williams and Kyle Kelm accounted for all 18 points by scoring nine apiece in the first 20 minutes. UNI only shot 30 percent in the first stanza but held a 27-18 lead at the intermission.
UNI came out in the second half and extended the margin to 13 points at 31-18 following a pair of free throws from freshman Seth Tuttle. Milwaukee was only able to trim the lead to six points on two occasions in the second half.
UNI's Johnny Moran scored 10 of his 12 points in the second half with six of those coming on a pair of 3-pointers in the final nine minutes of the game.
"Johnny will always find ways to make plays that impact the game," Jacobson said.
Moran's final three-pointer of the day gave UNI a 15-point lead at 60-45 with 4:13 left in the game. Koch hit the final points of the game, a 3-pointer from the left wing to give UNI its victory at 67-51.
UNI will be off until Dec. 19 vs. Loras and Dec. 20 vs. Ohio. Both games will tip at 7 p.m. in the McLeod Center.
NOTES: UNI leads the all-time series vs. Milwaukee, 4-3 ... the teams will meet again in the 2012-13 and 2013-14 seasons ... the 9-1 start for UNI is the sixth-best start in school history ... UNI improved to 31-6 all-time in the McLeod Center vs. non-conference opponents ... it's the 12th-time in the history of UNI basketball that the Panthers have won 8 games or more in a row ... it's the fourth-straight season that UNI has had an 8-game winning streak ... UNI's longest-winning streak is 15 in a row set in the 2009-10 season.
