University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
Wichita State
Shockers Stymie Panthers, 73-55
2/13/2011 7:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - The Wichita State Shockers delivered the UNI men's basketball squad its worst ever loss in the McLeod Center with a 73-55 triumph over the Panthers.
The Shockers (21-5 overall, 12-3 MVC) used a 23-1 run in the second half to stay in first place in the MVC standings. The Panthers (18-9, 9-6 MVC) shot 31.4 percent from the floor in the game. Kwadzo Ahelegbe led UNI with 15 points. Johnny Moran tallied a team-high eight rebounds.
Wichita State led from start to finish and opened up a 25-point lead in the second half. The Shockers were led in scoring by Toure' Murry's 15 points. Graham Hatch added 13, while J.T. Durley tossed in 10 points.
WSU opened up an early 9-2 advantage but it looked as though UNI's Jake Koch would bring the Panthers back as he tallied an 8-0 run of his own. Koch's two free throws with 11:06 left in the first half pulled UNI to within 14-12.
But the Shockers extended the margin thanks to 13-of-15 shooting from two-point land in the first half. Wichita State led 35-27 at the break.
The Shockers tallied a 45-31 lead at the 15:23 mark of the second half before the Panthers mounted another charge. UNI cut the WSU lead to 50-47 with 10:19 to play following a conventional 3-point play by Marc Sonnen.
However that would be the last glimmer of hope for the Panthers as the Shockers embarked on a 23-1 run to take a 73-48 lead with 2:25 left in the game. UNI made only one shot in the final 10 minutes of game action - a 3-pointer by Johnny Moran with 1:28 remaining.
The Panthers will travel to Bradley on Tuesday to try and snap a season-long three-game losing skid. Tip is set for 7 p.m. in Carver Arena in Peoria, Ill.
NOTES: UNI's previous worst home loss in the McLeod Center came in a 70-58 loss to Illinois-Chicago (Feb. 23, 2008) ... UNI committed eight turnovers and came into the game ranked No. 2 in the nation (9.7 per game) ... Ahelegbe moved to No. 14 on the Panthers' all-time scoring list with 1,214 points ... Ahelegbe started his 100th straight game as a Panther - a mark that ranks No. 8 in the nation among active streaks.
