Panthers Pick Up First Win; Drop SFA, 70-60

Tuesday, November 17

Cedar Falls, Iowa

7 a.m.

University of Northern Iowa

1-1

Stephen F. Austin

0-2

Stephen F. Austin

UNI

Panthers Pick Up First Win; Drop SFA, 70-60

11/17/2015 10:02:00 AM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - The University of Northern Iowa men's basketball squad picked up its first win of the season on Tuesday morning with a 70-60 win over Stephen F. Austin in the McLeod Center.

Four Panthers scored in double-figures led by 15 each from Paul Jesperson and Matt Bohannon. Wes Washpun and Jeremy Morgan each added 14.

SFA's Thomas Walkup scored a game-high 30 points for the Lumberjacks.

UNI did not trail in the contest and it was tied only once at 2-2. The Panthers pounced to a 14-4 lead with less than seven minutes into the contest. SFA trimmed the lead to four at 14-10 following a 6-0 run, however junior college transfer Aarias Austin drained a three-pointer to key a 9-2 run and the Panthers led by 11 with 6:54 left in the first half. Austin buried another 3-pointer to close out the first-half scoring and give UNI a 40-26 halftime advantage.

The Panthers extended the lead to 19 at 47-28 with 17:16 remaining in the game following a 3-pointer from Matt Bohannon. UNI led 49-34 with 12:46 left after Bohannon knocked down another jumper. But the Panthers would go scoreless for the next five minutes and the Lumberjacks clawed to within 49-49 with 8:24 on the clock. SFA would get as close as eight occasions but could not draw any closer as UNI held on for a 70-60 victory.

UNI will be back in action on Saturday at 1 p.m. against No. 1-ranked North Carolina in the McLeod Center. The game will be shown live on the Panther Sports Television Network and ESPN3.

NOTES: UNI improved to 4-0 all-time vs. Stephen F. Austin ... UNI won the rebounding battle for the second straight time this season, this time by the count of 34-29 ... UNI shot 52.3 percent from the floor ... SFA was limited to 35.5 percent shooting ... Matt Bohannon has made three 3-pointers in each game this year ... Bohannon has made at least one 3-pointer in 12 straight games ... UNI has made at least one 3-pointer in 497 straight games - the active streak in the Missouri Valley Conference.