UNI also extended its overall win streak to 14 in a row and moved to 25-2 overall and 14-1 in the Missouri Valley Conference. Loyola dropped to 16-11 overall and 6-9 in league play.
The Panthers led 11-2 barely five minutes into the contest as UNI forced four Loyola turnovers. Loyola climbed to within five at 20-15 on an Earl Peterson basket with 6:43 left in the half. But the Panthers responded with an 8-0 capped by back-to-back 3-pointers from Paul Jesperson and Nate Buss as UNI took a 28-15 lead with 3:48 left in the half.
UNI took a 30-18 lead into the intermission. It marked the 12th time this season that UNI held an opponent to 20 points or less in a half.
Loyola trimmed the UNI to 32-23 to begin the second half. However, UNI used a 13-4 run to open up an 18-point bulge at 45-27 following back-to-back baskets from Seth Tuttle. The Panthers notched their largest lead of the game at 19 points following a 3-pointer from Jesperson with 44 seconds left.
Tuttle and Buss led UNI with 10 points. Tuttle added seven rebounds, five assists and three steals.
UNI will return home for its next game on Saturday against the Bradley Braves. UNI and Bradley will tip at 3 p.m. in the McLeod Center. UNI is 13-0 at home this season and is riding a 16-game home win streak.
This team and ISU are much better teams in Iowa to follow vs the Hawks. I wish there was more television coverage.