CEDAR FALLS – With the Missouri Valley Conference opener, the Missouri State Bears came out on top with a final score of 79-59 against the UNI Panthers.
The Panthers started strong with Bowen Born and Trae Berhow made the first 10 points for the team but the Bears were quick to retaliate and took a 12-point lead within the first 10 minutes of the matchup.
Goanar Mar, the transfer from George Mason University, made his Panther debut with three points and is now only one point away from his 500th for his career.
Evan Gauger hit a three-pointer at 8:14 to bring the once 12-point lead down to eight. Mar made a two-point jumper with four minutes to go and shortened the lead again to only five points, but it wasn’t enough to get ahead of the conference opponent.
Berhow, Nate Heise, and Austin Phyfe all recorded points in the paint within the first three minutes of the second half changing the score to 48-36.
James Betz also found the basket in the second half, cutting the lead to two points and allowing Berhow to make a pullup jumper with 10 minutes to go to tie the game.
Phyfe grabbed eight rebounds against the Bears and Noah Carter was able to add four points to the Panthers score in the second half.
With the constant pressure provided by the Panthers, the Bears still managed to pull away and ended the game with a 20 point win.
The Missouri State forwards, Isaiah Mosley and Gaige Prim led the Bears in scoring. Mosley recorded 26 points while Prim finished with 16.
Berhow scored a total of 18 points tonight, leading the team in points scored. With those 18 points, he now records 694 career points ranking 80th on the list. Berhow is only 14 points away from Matt Schneidermann who is in the 79th spot.
Staying in the McLeod Center, the Panthers look for redemption against the Missouri State Bears Monday, Dec. 28, at 7:00 pm.
Game Notes:
– Goanar Mar records three points, four rebounds, and a block for his Panther Debut and is now one point away from his 500th career point.
– Trae Berhow led the team with 18 points and now has 694 career points.
– Gaige Prim scored double figures in his 15th consecutive game, scoring 16 tonight.
– Isaiah Mosley put 26 points on the board for the Bears.
– Austin Phyfe led the team in rebounds with eight.
