Haldeman, Phyfe Lead Panthers to Overtime Win

Saturday, November 16

Cedar Falls, IA

12 p.m.

University of Northern Iowa

4-0,0-0MVC

University of Northern Colorado

2-2,0-0Big Sky

OT 1

Northern Colo.

UNI

Haldeman, Phyfe Lead Panthers to Overtime Win

11/16/2019 3:49:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – The Panther men's basketball team took on the Bears of Northern Colorado on Saturday afternoon, winning in overtime 77-72. The game marked the first state side competition of the Cancun Challenge.

The Panthers are now 4-0 on the season, the first time since the 2014-15 season that Panthers have started with 4 straight wins. Saturday's overtime win also marked the first overtime game for the Panthers in three season, last going into extra minutes against Loyola in 2017.

The Panthers dominated the paint against the Bears, scoring 42 points down low. UNI took a 37-29 lead into halftime, going 16-33 from the field and 3-4 from the charity stripe. The Panthers won the turnover battle in the first half, losing possession of the ball just 4 times compared to 12 for the Bears. The Panthers also recorded 5 steals compared to the Bear's 2 steals.

The Panthers moved out to a 16 point lead early in the second half before the Bears began their comeback. The Bears recorded 4 steals in the second half while going 14-32 from the field. The Panthers held a 9 point lead with 3:14 remaining in the game but were unable to score on three possessions, while the Bears hit back to back three pointers, one with 8 seconds remaining in the game. The dagger three forced overtime where the Panthers outscored the Bears 12-7 to move to 4-0 on the season.

Austin Phyfe had a dominant performance, finishing with a career high 22 points, going 10-16 from the field in just over 40 minutes of play. Spencer Haldeman provided the spark for the Panther offense, finishing with a career high 25 points going 9-13 from the field and a perfect 3-3 from beyond the arc.

AJ Green finished with a season high 16 points. Green went 2 for 9 from the arc including a last second three at the end of the first half to take an 8 point lead into the break. Green and Haldeman led the Panthers rebounding efforts, hauling in 7 rebounds apiece while Phyfe grabbed a team high 4 offensive rebounds.

KEY STATS
-Spencer Haldeman finished with a career high 25 points (9-16 FG-FGA)
-Austin Phyfe finished with a career high 22 points (10-16 FG-FGA)
-Panthers move to 4-0 for the first time since 2014-15

UP NEXT
The Panthers now look to the UT Martin on Tuesday, November 19. The Panthers and Skyhawks will take the floor for the first time in program history on Tuesday night. Tipping off at 7 pm in the McLeod Center, the game can also viewed ESPN+.