University of Northern Iowa
Drake
James, Koch Lift Panthers Past Bulldogs, 83-68
1/7/2012 1:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
DES MOINES, Iowa - University of Northern Iowa juniors Anthony James and Jake Koch scored 26 and 18 points in leading the Panthers to an 83-68 victory, and snapping intra-state rival Drake's 11-game home-court winning streak Saturday at the Knapp Center.
UNI improves to 2-2 in Missouri Valley Conference play and 12-4 overall, while Drake drops to 1-3 in league play and 8-7 on the season.
James scored 20 of his 26 points in the second half, while Koch scored 12 of his 18 points in the first half. James made 9-of-15 shots from the field and Koch knocked down 13-of-14 free throw attempts and grabbed a team-high eight rebounds. Senior Johnny Moran and junior Marc Sonnen each chipped in with 11 points.
Drake ended the first half on a 7-0 run after Rayvonte Rice's jumper with three seconds left lifted the Bulldogs to a 35-34 halftime lead. Rice scored a game-high 27 points to pace the Bulldogs.
The Panthers outscored the Bulldogs 49-33 in the second half shooting 57.7 percent from the field and knocking down 18-of-24 free throws in the half.
UNI will travel to #24 Creighton on Tuesday for an 8 p.m. start at CenturyLink Center Omaha.
Notes: The Panthers are 3-0 against the state of Iowa's Division I institutions this year (Drake, Iowa, and Iowa State)... The Panthers have won three of their last four games played at the Knapp Center...Drake is 7-1 at home this season and was currently riding an 11-game home win streak... UNI holds a 35-24 all-time lead in the series vs. Drake...The Panthers are 18-1 all-time under coach Jacobson when scoring 80 or more points...Johnny Moran made his 168th career 3-pointer to move into third place on the Panthers' all-time made 3-pointers list moving ahead of Darian DeVries 166 career made 3-pointers (1995-98)...Moran also moved into a tie for second on the UNI career starts list after he started his 117th game tonight. Moran is now tied with former UNI guard Brooks McKowen (2003-07) for most career starts in a Panther uniform...Marc Sonnen has made a 3-pointer in 10 straight games...Anthony James hit double-digits for a team-high 13th time this year and topped the 20-point plateau for the fourth time, while Jake Koch and Sonnen hit double-figures for the ninth time...UNI is 1-2 when trailing at halftime this year...UNI is 5-0 on Saturdays this year.
