SIU Snaps Skid in Cedar Falls

Thursday, December 28

Cedar Falls, Iowa

7 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

8-5, 0-1MVC

Southern Illinois

9-5, 1-0MVC

Southern Illinois

UNI

SIU Snaps Skid in Cedar Falls

12/28/2017 9:48:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score UNI_SIU-boxscore-2017-1

BOX SCORE (PDF) | SEASON STATS (PDF)

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - The Southern Illinois University Salukis won for the first time in Cedar Falls since 2003 with a 56-53 triumph over the University of Northern Iowa men's basketball squad in the Missouri Valley Conference opener for both schools.

SIU (9-5 overall, 1-0 MVC) got 14 points from Kavion Pippen and 12 points off the bench from Marcus Bartley to spark a second-half comeback win for the visitors. SIU trailed by six points early in the second half at 33-27.

The Salukis made 7-of-10 three-pointers in the second half, including a triple that bounced high off the iron and straight down through the net from Armon Fletcher with 54.5 seconds left that gave the visitors a 55-48 lead in the McLeod Center.

The Panthers went scoreless in the second half from the 15:30 mark after a bucket from freshman Austin Phyfe until a three-pointer from senior Hunter Rhodes went in with 9:07 left in the game. While the Panthers were struggling to score, the Salukis were in the midst of a 12-2 run that led to a 39-35 lead with 9:37 remaining in the game.

UNI was led in scoring by freshman Tywhon Pickford's 13 points. Senior Klint Carlson grabbed a career-high 12 rebounds against the Salukis.

UNI will be back in action Sunday at Bradley. Tip is set for 1 p.m. at Carver Arena in Peoria, Illinois.

NOTES: Juwan McCloud has recorded at least one steal in 12 straight games ... UNI has made at least one 3-pointer in 574 consecutive games ... SIU had lost 14 straight games in Cedar Falls and all 11 of its previous visits to the McLeod Center prior to the victory on Thursday.