UNI WINS AT SOUTHERN ILLINOIS 59-51

Johnny Moran and Kerwin Dunham each had 11 points, and Adam Koch added 10, to lead the University of Northern Iowa men’s basketball team to a 59-51 win over Southern Illinois at SIU Arena

Moran hit 4-of-5 shots from the field and was 2-for-3 on three-pointers, while Dunham was 3-for-5 from the floor and a perfect 3-for-3 on treys. Jordan Eglseder had six points, three assists, two blocks and a game-high 10 rebounds for the Panthers.

The win was UNI’s first in Carbondale since the 1996-97 season, snapping an 11-game losing streak at SIU Arena. It was just SIU’s third Missouri Valley Conference loss at home since the start of the 2001-02 season.

Kwadzo Ahelegbe hit a pull-up jumper followed by an Ali Farokhmanesh three-pointer from the right wing to put UNI up 10-6 early in the game. The Salukis rallied to take a 14-12 lead after five straight points from Kevin Dillard, but the Panthers responded with six straight points, including layups from Lucas O’Rear and Jordan Eglseder, to go in front 18-14.

After SIU got within 18-16, Dunham provided two key three-pointers during a 9-0 run that put the Panthers in front, 27-16, with 7:15 left in the first half. UNI was able to maintain its advantage the rest of the way to the locker room, and held a 33-24 lead at the break.

A Moran three-pointer early in the second half put UNI in front, 38-30, with 18:01 left in the game. Neither team scored for the next five minutes, with SIU’s Kevin Dillard draining a three-pointer to end the scoreless drought. That spurred the Salukis on a 15-3 run over the next five minutes, as SIU moved in front, 45-41, with just over nine minutes left.

But UNI answered. Koch scored inside, followed by Eglseder grabbing an offensive rebound and getting a put-back, to pull the Panthers even at 45. With the game tied at 47, Koch took over. He was fouled on four straight UNI possessions, making 5-of-7 shots from the line, to put the Panthers up 52-47 with 2:56 left. After SIU’s Carlton Fay missed the front end of a one-and-one free throw opportunity, Dunham hit a three from the left wing to extend UNI’s lead to 55-47 with under two minutes remaining. The Panthers then were able to seal the game at the free throw line.

UNI shot 49 percent from the field for the game, including 50 percent (6-for-12) on three-pointers, and was 15-for-21 at the free throw line. The Panthers held Southern Illinois to just 35 percent field goal shooting, 6-for-16 on threes, and was 7-for-8 at the line. UNI out rebounded SIU, 30-29.

With the win, UNI improved to 7-6 overall, 1-1 in the Missouri Valley Conference, while Southern Illinois fell to 5-8, 0-2 in the Valley. The Panthers return home this Saturday night (Jan. 3) to play host to Wichita State at the McLeod Center, with tip off set for 7:05 pm.