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March 3, 2006

Recap |  Box Score |  Quotes

MVC TOURNAMENT NOTES: This marked the first time since 1989 that a No. 6 seed has won a quarterfinal round game in the MVC Tournament. Dating back to 1990, the No. 3 seeded team had won quarterfinal round games 16 straight years while advancing to the semifinal round.

Night Quarterfinal Session Attendance: MVC Tournament record 14,533 (old mark: 11,971 March 4, 1995) Note. The 14,533 attendance ranked third overall for any single session, trailing a final session in 2003 (14,911) and a semifinal session in 2003 (15,703).

NORTHERN IOWA NOTES: The Panthers, who snapped a two-game losing streak, improved to a school record tying 23-8 mark. Northern Iowa advances to the semifinal round of the MVC Tournament for the fourth time. The Panthers raise their MVC Tournament record to 9-12, including a 4-5 quarterfinal round mark and a 2-1 record against Missouri State. Northern Iowa set season defensive bests for fewest points allowed (42) and lowest field goal percentage (.288).

PANTHERS' PLAYER PLAUDITS: Grant Stout, who didn't make a three-point basket in either of the two previous games this season against the Bears, had two treys tonight. He enjoyed an MVC season best 13th double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Sophomore center Eric Coleman enjoyed his sixth double-figure rebounding game, grabbing 10 boards. Senior guard Ben Jacobson scored 12 points, including two treys, to increase his school career record in that department to 200.

MISSOURI STATE NOTES: Missouri State, which had a five-game winning streak snapped, closes out the regular season with a 20-8 record. This marked the first time since 2001 that the Bears lost in the quarterfinal round of the MVC Tournament. Missouri State fell to 21-15 in MVC Tournament play, including a 12-4 mark in the quarterfinal round. Missouri State's 42 points were the lowest by a Bears' team since falling to Creighton, 63-41, in the quarterfinal round of the 2001 MVC Tournament. Missouri State also shot a season-low 28.8 percent from the floor, making just 15 of 52 shots. The Bears also set season lows with 15 baskets and seven assists. Missouri State starters were a combined four of 28 from the floor. The Bears suffered just their second loss in 20 games this season when they had owned the halftime lead.

BEARS' PLAYER PLAUDITS: Tyler Chaney scored a game-high 14 points for the Bears, marking the first time he has scored in double figures in six games. Junior guard Blake Ahearn, who led the MVC in scoring (17.3 avg.) equaled a season low with two points (also vs. Oral Roberts), but missed all five shot attempts in the game to mark the first time this season he failed to score a basket in a game. Nathan Bilyeu, who had led the Bears in scoring in each of the two previous games this season against UNI (13, 19), finished with just four points.

FIRST-HALF RECAP: Trailing 5-2 with 15:22 left in the half, Missouri State went on a 13-5 run over the next 9:30 with reserve Tyler Chaney scoring six points. During the run, Northern Iowa made only two of 10 shots from the floor. The Panthers hit consecutive three-point baskets by Eric Coleman and Brooks McKowen to regain the lead at 16-15 with 5:19 left. Missouri State answered with two three-point baskets by Chaney and a floater in the lane by Kellen Easley to close out the half with a 23-21 lead. Led by Chaney's 10 points, Missouri State's reserves outscored Northern Iowa's bench, 19-3. Missouri State's Blake Ahearn, who led the MVC in scoring (17.3 avg.) missed two shots and failed to score in the first half allong with starting forward Nathan Bilyeu (9.4 avg.).

SECOND-HALF RECAP: Northern Iowa opened the second half rattling off eight straight points, while Missouri State missed its first nine shots to open the period. Dale Lamberth ended the Bears' dry spell with a basket with 14:39 left. Northern Iowa outscored the Bears, 16-2, in the opening 8:32 of the second half to increase its lead to 37-25. Missouri State made just one of its first 13 shots in the half, finishing the period hitting a paltry 21.4 percent from the floor (6-28).