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Men's Basketball
Panthers Topple Southern Illinois, 66-61
Jan. 6, 2007
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Cedar Falls, Iowa - Four players scored in double figures to lead the University of Northern Iowa to a 66-61 win over Southern Illinois Saturday afternoon at the McLeod Center. The win - UNI's fifth straight -- improved the Panthers to 13-2 overall, 4-0 in the Missouri Valley Conference. SIU saw its five-game winning streak snapped and fell to 12-3 overall, 3-1 in conference. Senior forward Grant Stout (New Sharon, Iowa) led the Panthers with a double-double, scoring 13 points and grabbing 11 rebounds, while adding four assists, four blocks and a steal. Eric Coleman (Maplewood, Minn.) and Jared Josten (Webster City, Iowa) each added 12 points, while Adam Viet (Ackley, Iowa) had 10 off the bench. Neither team held more than a four-point lead in a back-and-forth first half. The Panthers took a 15-11 advantage at the 8:22 mark on a basket by Coleman, but the Salukis then went on a 7-0 run over the next three minutes to go up 18-15. UNI responded with a 10-2 run - including five points by Viet -- to go up 25-20 with under a minute to play. SIU's Jamaal Tatum, who scored a game-high 18 points, answered with a three to pull the Salukis within 25-23 at halftime. After UNI's Travis Brown (Richfield, Minn.) scored to open the second half, Southern Illinois went on an 11-2 run to open a 34-29 advantage, holding UNI without a field goal for more than six minutes. With 12:43 left, Viet broke UNI's field goal drought with a three, and Adam Koch (Ashwaubenon, Wis.) followed with a transition layup to pull the Panthers even at 34-all. That was the start of a decisive 19-7 run that saw the Panthers take control, 51-41 with just over four minutes remaining, and UNI hit enough free throws down the stretch to seal the win. For the game, the Panthers connected on 52.5 of their field goals, which is the best anyone has shot against the Salukis this season. SIU entered the game allowing its opponents to make just 40 percent of its field goals. UNI also had a decided advantage at the free throw line, making 22-of-29 charity tosses to just 9-of-13 for SIU. The Panthers, who now stand in sole possession of first place in the Valley, hit the road Tuesday (Jan. 9) for a game at Illinois State. Tipoff from Normal, Ill., is set for 7:05 p.m.
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