University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
Drake
Panthers Win Fifth Straight Defeat Drake, 71-64
2/16/2013 1:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
DES MOINES, Iowa - The University of Northern Iowa men's basketball team knocked down 13 three-pointers in a 71-64 win over intra-state rival Drake Saturday night in the Knapp Center. The Panthers (16-11 overall, 9-6 MVC) have now reeled off a season best five consecutive wins.
Neither team led by more than five points in the contest until the Panthers broke the game open after knocking down three straight three balls during a 9-0 run with 4:10 remaining in the second half. The Panthers shot 50 percent from three-point range and knocked down10-of-11 free throw attempts.
The Panthers were paced by seniors Anthony James and Marc Sonnen's team best 17 points. Senior Jake Koch scored 11 points and junior Chip Rank chipped in with 11 points and knocked down 3-of-5 three point attempts. Drake (11-15 overall, 5-10 MVC) was paced by Chris Hines' game-high 18 points.
In a see-saw first half that featured 11 lead changes and three ties, Deon Mitchell's layup with three seconds left gave the Panthers a 33-32 halftime advantage. Mitchell scored five first half points, while dishing out six assists.
James scored seven of the Panthers first 12 points in the first six minutes of the contest and paced the Panthers with 10 first half points. Sonnen added nine first half points, drilling three of the six made Panther three balls in the opening half.
The Panthers will look for their sixth consecutive victory Tues., Feb. 19, at Missouri State.
Game Notes: Coach Jacobson earned career win 145 as the Panthers head coach, which ranks third all-time on the UNI career wins list ... Jacobson moved passed Jim Berry, 144 wins from 1974-86...Coach Jacobson is 9-2 against Drake head coach Mark Phelps... The Panthers made 10 or more three-pointers for the sixth time this season and third time in MVC play this year...The Panthers are 6-0 when making 10 or more three-pointers... Marc Sonnen drained five three-pointers in the game...Sonnen has knocked down 173 career three's, third on the UNI all-time list surpassing Nick Nurse's (1986-89) 170 career made three-pointers...Sonnen has attempted 411 career three's, fifth on the all-time list...The Panthers swept Drake for the third time since the 2006-07 season, and have swept 21 season series with MVC opponents since 06-07,...The Panthers have won four of their last five meetings in the Knapp Center and own a 12-9 all-time mark in the Knapp...The Panthers have won four straight against the Bulldogs and eight of the last nine in the series... UNI holds a 38-24 lead in the all-time series vs. Drake...The Panthers are 9-3 on Saturday this year...UNI is 15-2 when leading at halftime...The Panthers are 4-5 in true road games this year.
