University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
Ohio
Ohio Snaps UNI's 9-Game Win Streak, 76-59
12/20/2011 1:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - The visiting Ohio University Bobcats shot 51.7 percent from the floor and 52.4 percent from 3-point land to snap the University of Northern Iowa men's basketball teams' nine-game win streak on Tuesday in the McLeod Center.
Ohio (10-1 overall) buried 11 3-pointers in the game, while limiting UNI to 35.2 percent shooting from the floor. UNI dropped to 10-2 on the year.
The Bobcats were led in scoring by Ivo Baltic with 22 points. Baltic made 10-of-14 shots from the field, including both 3-pointers he attempted. Ohio's point guard D.J. Cooper tallied 13 points and dished out four assists. Nick Kellogg (11 points) and T.J. Hall (10 points) also scored in double figures for the Bobcats.
UNI's offense was led by Jake Koch's 15 points. Anthony James added 11 points and Marc Sonnen contributed 10 points off the bench.
Ohio never trailed in the game while jumping out to a 6-0 lead 2:24 into the contest. UNI pulled within 12-7, but got no closer than five points the rest of the way. Ohio drained 7-of-15 3-point shots in the first half, while UNI made only 3-of-10 from distance.
The Panthers started quickly in the second half with a 7-3 run to trim the lead to eight points at 47-39. But the Bobcats answered just as quickly with an 8-0 run to push the lead back to 16 points at 55-39 with 16:39 left in the game.
Ohio eventually led by 22 points at 67-45 following a triple from Hall with 10:35 left in the game.
UNI will begin Missouri Valley Conference play Dec. 29 in Normal, Ill., against the Illinois State Redbirds.
NOTES: UNI's 17-point loss was the second-largest margin of defeat for the Panthers since the McLeod Center opened in 2006 (Wichita State scored an 18-point win over the Panthers last season, 73-55) ... it was only the fourth UNI loss in the McLeod Center by 10 points or more as well ... UNI is 64-20 all-time in the McLeod Center ... UNI made 15-of-20 free throws, while Ohio made only 5-of-9 at the charity stripe ... Ohio outrebounded UNI, 37-32 ... UNI is 10-0 when leading at the half and 0-2 when trailing at the intermission.
