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Jan. 28, 2006

Box Score |  Photo Gallery

Des Moines, Iowa - Brooks McKowen (Fairbank, Iowa) hit two free throws with 1.9 seconds left to lift the University of Northern Iowa to a 51-49 win over Drake this afternoon at the Knapp Center.

After Drake's Al Stewart hit a layup with 20 seconds left to tie the game at 49-all, the Panthers called timeout. UNI's Ben Jacobson (Sioux City, Iowa) came off a high ball screen and drove into the lane with the clock running down. He dished the ball to McKowen, who was outside the three-point line on the right wing, who got fouled in the act of shooting. McKowen then made two of three free throws for the final margin of victory. Drake's Sean Tracy's launched a 40-foot desperation three-pointer at the buzzer but it was short.

Drake held its largest lead of the game, 35-29, with just over 12 minutes left. But UNI went on a 12-6 run to tie the game at 41-all with less than five minutes to play. Jacobson then hit a trey to give the Panthers a 44-41 lead, and Grant Stout (New Sharon, Iowa) followed with a conventional three-point play for a 47-41 advantage with less than four minutes to go.

The Bulldogs rallied with six straight points, tying the game at 47-all on a Chaun Brooks jumper with 59 seconds left. Jacobson then gave UNI a 49-47 lead with 38 seconds remaining with a five foot runner in the lane.

Both teams struggled offensively for much of the game. The Panthers shot 42 percent from the field, while Drake managed just 33 percent shooting. UNI, who entered the game shooting 73 percent from the free throw line as a team, connected on just 11-of-24 foul shots.

Jacobson led UNI with 14 points, while Stout had his seventh double-double of the season with 13 points and a game-high 11 rebounds. Stewart led Drake with 14 points.

With its fifth-straight win, UNI improves to 19-3 overall, 9-2 in Missouri Valley Conference action. Drake falls to 11-11 overall, 4-7 in conference play. The Panthers are next in action on Tuesday (Jan. 31) when they travel to face Creighton. Tipoff from Qwest Center Omaha is set for 8:05 p.m. and the game will be televised nationally by ESPNU.