Courtesy: UNI Athletics Communications –
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The University of Northern Iowa men’s basketball team scored its sixth straight win with a 69-63 road win over Missouri State in JQH Arena.
The Panthers (17-11 overall, 10-6 Missouri Valley Conference) used a 19-point, 12-rebound effort from sophomore Seth Tuttle in the victory. Senior guard Anthony James added 17 points and a career-high eight assists.
Missouri State (8-20, 6-10 MVC) jumped on the Panthers early taking a 15-5 lead with 11:22 left in the first half.
The Panthers used a 14-2 run to take a 19-17 lead following a 3-pointer from Deon Mitchell with 5:52 left in the first half. UNI took a 30-27 lead into the intermission.
UNI added two putback baskets in the first minute of the second half from senior Jake Koch and Tuttle to open up a seven-point lead. The Panthers would extend the lead to 40-29 with 16:25 left on a pair of free throws from Koch.
The Bears cut the lead to three at 64-61 with 33 seconds left. But the Panthers would knock down five of its six free throws in the final 30 seconds to close out the victory.
The Panthers will return home and take on the Denver Pioneers on Saturday at 7 p.m. in the McLeod Center. The game is a part of the RAMADA Worldwide BracketBusters. The game will be shown live on ESPN3.
NOTES: Tuttle scored 15 of his 19 points in the second half … UNI came into the game ranked No. 7 in the nation in free throw percentage at 76.4 percent … UNI drained 19-of-23 against the Bears.
