University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
30-3
Illinois State
21-12
UNI Takes MVC Tourney Title Following 18-Point Rally, 69-60
3/8/2015 1:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The University of Northern Iowa men's basketball team captured the 2015 Missouri Valley Conference Tournament championship with a 69-60 victory over the Illinois State Redbirds at Scottrade Center.
Illinois State (21-12 overall) jumped out quickly on the Panthers and built a 33-15 lead. UNI struggled from the floor early and went through a 2-for-20 shooting slump at one point. UNI shot 23.3 percent in the first half and trailed 36-22 at the half.
UNI (30-3 overall) used a 32-7 run to turn an 18-point deficit into a seven-point lead at 47-40. The Redbirds tied it again at 47-47 on a 3-pointer from Deontae Hawkins with 8:07 left in the game. But the Panthers responded again and ran off eight straight points to take a 55-47 lead. The 8-0 run featured two buckets from Nate Buss and another from Matt Bohannon. The Redbirds would get no closer than five points in the final seven minutes of action.
UNI shot 54.2 percent in the second half and outscored Illinois State, 47-24.
The Panthers were led in scoring by Seth Tuttle and Nate Buss, who each tallied 15 points. Tuttle also added nine rebounds and three assists.
NOTES: It is the fourth MVC Tournament title for UNI … the Panthers have won MVC tourney titles in 2004, 2009, 2010 and 2015 … UNI's Max Martino was awarded the MVC's Elite 18 Award following the game … UNI's Tuttle and Buss were named to the All-Tournament team … Tuttle was named the Most Outstanding Player of the tournament … UNI has matched its school record for wins in a season with 30 … UNI moved to 6-0 all-time as the No. 2 seed at the MVC Tournament … UNI is 19-19 all-time in the MVC Tournament … UNI leads the nation with 15 road/neutral games.
