WICHITA STATE DEFEATS UNI, 69-61

Guard Clevin Hannah had 14 points, including making 4-for-5 on three-pointers, and also dished out seven assists to lead Wichita State to a 69-61 win over the University of Northern Iowa at Charles Koch Arena on Saturday night.

UNI was led by junior forward Adam Koch, who had a game-high 17 points, while adding five rebounds, two assists and three steals. Junior center Jordan Eglseder added 13 points for the Panthers, while sophomore guard Kerwin Dunham came off the bench to contribute nine points.

Eglseder scored UNI’s first seven points of the game, on a pair of layups and a three-pointer from the left wing. The score was even at seven, when WSU’s Ramon Clemente scored inside to give the Shockers the lead for good. Clemente’s basket was followed by a three-point barrage by the Shockers, as they drained 4-of-5 from behind the arc over the next seven minutes, part of a 20-6 run that saw them open a 29-13 lead with 8:02 left in the first half.

Wichita State moved in front by as many as 19 points, 35-16, with 4:45 left in the half, after Toure Murry was fouled on a three-point attempt and made all three free throws. UNI answered with a trey from Travis Brown, and baskets from Lucas O’Rear and Johnny Moran, to get within 35-23, but WSU ended on a 7-2 run to go into the locker room with a 42-25 advantage.

Wichita State shot 64 percent from the field in the first half, including making 7-of-10 three-pointers, with Hannah making all four of his treys in the first 20 minutes.

Wichita State was in front by 16, 48-32, when UNI made a run. The Panthers got a pair of baskets from Koch, as well as one from Ali Farokhmanesh, to get within nine, 48-39, with just over 10 minutes to go. A three-pointer from Dunham got UNI to its closest point of the second half, 54-47, with 5:06 left, but WSU’s David Kyles answered the next trip down with a three-pointer of his own.

Dunham made two more three-pointers in the game’s final moments to help keep the Panthers close, with his last one getting UNI within five, 66-61, with 44 seconds left. But J.T. Durley was fouled and made both free throws with 30 seconds remaining, and UNI could get no closer.

For the game, Wichita State shot 47 percent from the floor, while UNI shot 37 percent. The Shockers were 8-for-18 from three-point range, while the Panthers were 6-for-21. UNI converted 17-of-28 at the free throw line to WSU’s 11-for-17 effort at the charity stripe.

With the victory, Wichita State improved to 13-13 overall, 7-8 in the Missouri Valley Conference, while UNI fell to 18-8, 12-3 in the Valley. The Panthers return home on Wednesday (Feb. 18), when they play host to intrastate rival Drake. Tipoff from the McLeod Center is set for 7:05 pm.