UNI Closes Out Illinois State, 75-66

Saturday, February 20

Cedar Falls, Iowa

3 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

17-12, 9-7MVC

Illinois State

17-12, 11-5MVC

Illinois State

UNI

UNI Closes Out Illinois State, 75-66

2/20/2016 5:23:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - The University of Northern Iowa men's basketball team bounced back from a midweek hiccup and scored a 75-66 victory over the Illinois State Redbirds Saturday in the McLeod Center.

UNI (17-12 overall, 9-7 MVC) earned a split of the season series vs. Illinois State (17-12, 11-5 MVC). The Panthers also recorded their 12 consecutive victory over the Redbirds in Cedar Falls. Illinois State is winless in its 10 trips to the McLeod Center, and the Redbirds lost their last two appearances in the UNI-Dome.

UNI recorded its ninth MVC victory of the season that allows the Panthers to clinch at least a .500 mark in league games for the 13th straight year.

The Panthers led by as many as 19 points in the second half before the Redbirds charged back and cut the lead to three at 49-46 with 10:25 left in the game. UNI responded with a 14-5 run to push the lead back to 63-51 with 5:18 remaining.

UNI saw all five starters reach double-figure scoring led by senior Wes Washpun's 18 points. Junior Jeremy Morgan scored 13 to go along with a career-high five blocks. Senior Paul Jesperson knocked in a pair of three-pointers, grabbed six rebounds and scored 12 points. Senior Matt Bohannon drained two three-pointers and tallied 10 points. Sophomore Bennett Koch narrowly missed a double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds.

UNI will honors its three seniors Wednesday night against the Indiana State Sycamores. Tip is set for 7 p.m. in the McLeod Center.

NOTES: UNI has won seven of its last eight contests ... Illinois State saw its five-game win streak snapped ... UNI came into the game ranked No. 4 in the country in fewest fouls per game and committed only 12 against the Redbirds ... UNI won the rebounding battle, 30-29 ... UNI has made at least one three-pointer in 524 straight games - the longest active streak in the MVC ... UNI moved to 16-4 when holding the opposition to less than 70 points ... UNI has held eight straight opponents to less than 70 points ... head coach Ben Jacobson improved to 17-8 vs. Illinois State ... coach Jacobson is 57-24 against MVC schools in the state of Illinois ... Jacobson recorded his 112th MVC victory to move into 7th place ahead of Rich Herrin, who tallied 111 MVC wins at Southern Illinois ... UNI is 10-3 at home this season.