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Men's Basketball
UNI Defeats Nicholls State, 68-63, in Season Opener
Nov. 12, 2006
Seattle, Wash. - Eric Coleman (Maplewood, Minn.) and Grant Stout (New Sharon, Iowa) each had double-doubles to lead the University of Northern Iowa men's basketball team to a season-opening 68-63 win over Nicholls State in the first game of the Basketball Travelers Classic. Coleman had 16 points and a game-high 15 rebounds, while Stout had 11 points and 10 boards. Also in double figure scoring were Jared Josten (Webster City, Iowa) who had 12 points and Adam Viet (Ackley, Iowa) with 11. Today's win was also the first game in the head coaching career of Ben Jacobson. Jacobson becomes the first Panthers head basketball coach to win his coaching debut since Eldon Miller in 1986. UNI jumped out to a quick 12-5 lead, but NSU then went on a 16-5 run to open a 21-17 advantage. But UNI had back-to-back treys from Brown and Viet to take the lead for good, 23-20. The Panthers held a 35-31 lead at intermission. In the second half, UNI held its biggest lead of the game, 57-46, with just under 10 minutes remaining. Nicholls State wasn't able to get closer than five until the closing moments, when the Colonels hit a three to pull within 65-63 with 14 seconds left. But Viet hit two free throws to put UNI back up by four, and NSU would not score again. UNI hit 10 three-pointers on the night, while Nicholls State connected on 13. Josten led the way with four treys, while Viet had three. In his first game, freshman Stephen Jones (Bethalto, Ill.) had two key treys in the second half. The Panthers, who had a big size advantage over NSU, won the rebounding battle, 35-26 (including 14 offensive boards). The Basketball Travelers Classic continues tomorrow (Nov. 13) at Bank of America Arena. UNI's next game is at 4:30 p.m. (Pacific) when it faces Pepperdine.
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