University of Northern Iowa Athletics
Wednesday, February 9
Cedar Falls, Iowa
7 PM
University of Northern Iowa
14-9,10-3MVC
53
vs
44
Southern Illinois University
12-13,5-8MVC
1
2
F
Southern Ill.
19
25
44
UNI
26
27
53
Team Stats
SIU
UNI
FG%
.333
.390
3FG%
.318
.400
FT%
.714
.882
RB
25
33
TO
16
16
STL
7
6
Game Leaders
Pts
8
FGM
4
3FGM
0
FTM
0
Pts
7
FGM
3
3FGM
1
FTM
0
Pts
7
FGM
2
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Players Mentioned
G
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
G
/ Men's Basketball
F
/ Men's Basketball
Panther men's basketball outduels SIU in defensive battle
2/9/2022 10:23:00 PM | Men's Basketball
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --- UNI men's basketball held Southern Illinois to 44 points as the Panthers defeated the Salukis 52-44 on Wednesday night at the McLeod Center in Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) action.
The Panthers improve to a season-best 5 games over .500 at 14-9 overall and 10-3 in the MVC, while SIU falls to 12-13 and 5-8 in league play. With the win, the Panthers take over sole possession of first place in the MVC standings with 5 games remaining in the regular season.
UNI opened up action as AJ Green sank a pair of three-point baskets to give the Panthers an early lead. Facing off against the league's best scoring defense, the Panthers held the Salukis without a field goal for nearly 11 minutes to build a healthy lead. UNI attacked from mid-range to build a 14-point advantage, but struggled to slow a late SIU push at the end of the opening half. The Panthers defense allowed just 19 points in the first half, a season-low as UNI entered the halftime break with a 26-19 advantage.
The Salukis attacked the basket early in the second half, tying the game at 33 all on a Marcus Domask three-point field goal. Attacking the basket with each possession, UNI improved inside the paint to retake the lead, drawing contact and making 9 shot attempts at the free throw line. Locking down defensively, the Panthers held SIU scoreless for the final 3 minutes of regulation, extending a late lead to 9 points to secure UNI's 5th consecutive win.
AJ Green led the night with a game-high 24 points, shooting 4-for-9 from beyond the arc and going a perfect 6-of-6 from the charity stripe. Bowen Born finished with 8 points, as Trae Berhow scored 7 points with a season-high 11 rebounds. Nate Heise notched 5 points with 10 rebounds, while Noah Carter posted 7 points.
PANTHER NOTES
UP NEXT
The Panthers return to action on Feb. 13 on the road against the Ramblers of Loyola-Chicago. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m. CT at Gentile Arena.
The Panthers improve to a season-best 5 games over .500 at 14-9 overall and 10-3 in the MVC, while SIU falls to 12-13 and 5-8 in league play. With the win, the Panthers take over sole possession of first place in the MVC standings with 5 games remaining in the regular season.
UNI opened up action as AJ Green sank a pair of three-point baskets to give the Panthers an early lead. Facing off against the league's best scoring defense, the Panthers held the Salukis without a field goal for nearly 11 minutes to build a healthy lead. UNI attacked from mid-range to build a 14-point advantage, but struggled to slow a late SIU push at the end of the opening half. The Panthers defense allowed just 19 points in the first half, a season-low as UNI entered the halftime break with a 26-19 advantage.
The Salukis attacked the basket early in the second half, tying the game at 33 all on a Marcus Domask three-point field goal. Attacking the basket with each possession, UNI improved inside the paint to retake the lead, drawing contact and making 9 shot attempts at the free throw line. Locking down defensively, the Panthers held SIU scoreless for the final 3 minutes of regulation, extending a late lead to 9 points to secure UNI's 5th consecutive win.
AJ Green led the night with a game-high 24 points, shooting 4-for-9 from beyond the arc and going a perfect 6-of-6 from the charity stripe. Bowen Born finished with 8 points, as Trae Berhow scored 7 points with a season-high 11 rebounds. Nate Heise notched 5 points with 10 rebounds, while Noah Carter posted 7 points.
PANTHER NOTES
- UNI's 19 points allowed in the first half were the fewest given up since allowing 18 points at Drake on Jan. 29, 2020, the final game of the 2019-20 regular season.
- SIU's 44 points were the fewest allowed by the UNI defense since giving up 41 against Evansville in a 47-41 home win on Feb. 13, 2018.
- Wednesday's game marked the second time this season the Salukis were held under 45 points in a game. SIU scored just 39 points on Jan. 27 in a home loss to Loyola-Chicago.
- With his second half three-point field goal, Trae Berhow passed Ben Jacobson (2002-06) for 3rd all-time in made three-pointers in UNI history. With 204 career baskets from beyond the arc, Berhow trails only Matt Bohannon (2012-16) and AJ Green.
- Austin Phyfe is 28 points from passing his father Steve on UNI's all-time scoring list. Steve Phyfe, who played for the Panthers from 1987-90, was a member of UNI's first-ever NCAA Tournament team in 1990, scoring 912 career points.
- Noah Carter jumped up to 75th on the program's all-time scoring list with 732 career points, passing Scott Stafford (1983-85).
- Tyhwon Pickford played in his 137th career game on Wednesday night, breaking a tie with Seth Tuttle (2011-15) for the 4th most games played in UNI history. Pickford trails leader Marc Sonnen (2008-13), who played a program record 139 games for the Panthers, as well as Jake Koch (2008-13) and Matt Bohannon, who both played 138 games.
UP NEXT
The Panthers return to action on Feb. 13 on the road against the Ramblers of Loyola-Chicago. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m. CT at Gentile Arena.
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