CARBONDALE, Ill. – The University of Northern Iowa men’s basketball team won its eighth straight games with a 59-52 triumph at Southern Illinois on Wednesday night.
UNI (19-2, 8-1 MVC) used a 22-3 run in the second half to rally from a halftime deficit and tally its eight league win a row. SIU (9-13 overall, 2-7 MVC) was held to 39.2 percent shooting in the game.
UNI bounced out to a 10-2 lead as junior Paul Jesperson drained the first of his two-first half three-pointers with 12:54 on the clock. But SIU responded with a 16-4 run to give the Salukis an 18-14 lead with 6:49 remaining. The Salukis would eventually take a 26-23 lead at the intermission.
The Panthers trailed 32-30 but went on a 22-3 run to take a 52-35 lead with 7:05 left in the game. UNI made its first five 3-pointers of the second half. UNI drained seven of its first eight shots in the second 20 minutes.
UNI eventually led by 18 points at 56-38 with 5:31 left in the game. SIU closed the game on a 14-3 run.
UNI’s Seth Tuttle recorded his 20th career double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds. Junior Paul Jesperson tied a career-high with 13 points as he drained his first three 3-pointers of the game. Senior Nate Buss tallied 11 points off the bench.
No. 18-ranked UNI will return home on Saturday to take on the No. 12-ranked Wichita State Shockers in a sold out McLeod Center. UNI and Wichita State will tip at 3 p.m. The game will be broadcast live nationally on ESPN2.
