UNI Sinks SMU at Battle 4 Atlantis, 61-58

Wednesday, November 22

Nassau, Bahamas

8:30 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

4-1

SMU

4-1

UNI

SMU

UNI Sinks SMU at Battle 4 Atlantis, 61-58

11/22/2017 10:54:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

BOX SCORE (PDF)

PARADISE ISLAND, Bahamas – The University of Northern Iowa men's basketball team advanced to the semifinals of the 2017 Bad Boy Mowers Battle 4 Atlantis with a 61-58 victory over the SMU Mustangs.

UNI (4-1 overall) used a 21-2 run in the first half to turn a 14-10 deficit into a 31-16 advantage over SMU (4-1 overall). UNI's spark during the spurt came from sophomore guard Spencer Haldeman as he buried four 3-pointers. UNI made six of its first 10 three-pointers in the game and held a 31-23 lead at the break.

The Panthers opened up a 13-point lead in the second half only to see the Mustangs twice trim the margin to a single digit. However, the Panthers would never relinquish the lead. UNI controlled the rebounding battle and won the final tally by a count of 37-27.

Four Panthers reached double-figure scoring led by Haldeman's 15-point effort. Bennett Koch (12), Tywhon Pickford (11) and Juwan McCloud (10) joined Haldeman in the double-figure points category.

SMU (4-1 overall) shot 39 percent for the game, including 6-of-21 from 3-point range. SMU's Shake Milton was held to 14 points on 5-of-19 shooting from the field.

UNI will take on North Carolina State in the semifinals on Thursday. Tip is set for 2 p.m. (CT) on ESPN2.

NOTES: UNI head coach Ben Jacobson moved to 10-4 all-time against SMU head coach Tim Jankovich … the two had faced off 13 times when Jankovich served as the Illinois State head coach from 2007-2012 … it is UNI's first-ever win over SMU after the Mustangs had won the previous two encounters between the two schools … Hunter Rhodes saw his first action of the season after sitting out the first four games with an injury … Austin Phyfe returned to action after missing the previous two games with an injury.