University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
8-5,2-0MVC
Southern Illinois
5-8,0-2MVC
Panther men’s hoops rides second half surge to win over SIU
12/29/2024 3:48:00 PM | Men's Basketball
UNI improves to 2-0 in MVC play for the first time in 15 years. Panthers host Belmont on New Year’s Day.
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --- After a hotly contested first half that saw the Panthers grab a late lead heading into halftime, the UNI men's basketball team rolled past Southern Illinois in the second period en route to a 78-67 win over the Salukis in Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) play on Sunday afternoon inside the McLeod Center.
Northern Iowa used a pair of double-digit scoring runs to quell SIU's potent offense at the end of the first period and early in the second to surge past their conference rival, grabbing a third straight victory over the Salukis in the series. UNI has now won five of their last six contests.
HOW IT HAPPENED
UNI managed to keep pace with a hot shooting Saluki team in the first half despite a smothering defensive effort by SIU. Will Hornseth found an early rhythm with three straight baskets for a 6-0 personal scoring run, with Ben Schwieger and Kyle Pock providing additional offense to match Southern Illinois, which saw Jarrett Hensley lead all players with 14 first half points. Shooting 57.7% from the field in the first 20 minutes of action, interior offense from Jacob Hutson and Tytan Anderson helped Northern Iowa overcome a nine-point Saluki lead and hold SIU scoreless for the final five minutes, 33 seconds of the half. A Ben Schwieger three-pointer with under a minute to play gave the Panthers their first lead of the game, accelerating a 13-0 run for UNI to end the half for a 38-34 Panther lead at the break.
Northern Iowa continued its hot shooting pace into the second half, scoring the first five points of the period to extend its scoring streak to 18 points. After the Salukis shot 50% from the field in the first period, UNI held SIU to 41.1% shooting in the final 20 minutes, rattling off another large scoring run over a three minute, 48 second stretch with a 14-0 run. Hutson continued to lead the way with ten points in the final frame, with Anderson scoring nine points with six rebounds, while Trey Campbell found his groove with eight points in the half, while Max Weisbrod added eight points on a pair of three-point shots. UNI would shoot 53.8% in the final frame, riding a healthy double-digit lead down the stretch en route to an 11-point victory.
Hutson finished the afternoon with a game-high 20 points on 70% shooting with Anderson notching his second consecutive double-double game with 15 points, ten rebounds and four assists. Weisbrod posted ten points, as Campbell, Schwieger and Leon Bond III all scored eight points.
ADDITIONAL NOTES
- With Saturday's win, UNI ties the all-time series with Southern Illinois with 39 wins each. The Panthers have won their last three matchups with the Salukis, including the last five at home.
- Northern Iowa improves to 2-0 in MVC play for the first time since the 2009-10 season with its win over SIU.
- Saturday marked the first time since the 2008-09 season that Southern Illinois scored more than 58 points in the McLeod Center.
- Tytan Anderson's 15-point, ten rebound double-double was his third of the season and 19th of his career.
- Jacob Hutson has scored 20+ points in four of his last five games and five times this season. He is also 13 points away from becoming the 115th member of UNI's 500 point club.
UP NEXT
Northern Iowa returns to action on New Year's Day as it welcomes the Belmont Bruins to Cedar Falls in MVC play. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. CT inside the McLeod Center, with live coverage available on the MVC TV Network and the Panther Sports Radio Network.
Tickets can be purchased through the UNI Ticket Office online, by calling 319-273-4849 or through email at tickets@uni.edu.
UNI men's basketball action can be followed all season long on social media on Facebook (UNI Men's Basketball), X (@UNImbb) and on Instagram (@uni_basketball). The full 2024 schedule and roster, along with the latest Panther news and information can be found online at UNIpanthers.com.
