CHICAGO – UNI took command of the ball game in the second half and didn’t look back as the Panthers scored an 83-66 win over the Towson Tigers on Saturday afternoon at the United Center. The victory snaps UNI’s three-game skid heading into the final game of the non-conference schedule next week.
The Panther defense challenged the Tigers early by defending the three-point line and forcing Towson to attack inside the paint. UNI struggled in the opening half as Towson outrebounded the Panthers 20-12, and 9-1 on offensive boards. Thanks to 10-of-13 shooting at the free throw line, UNI was able to climb back from a 7-point deficit and head into halftime trailing by only two points, 33-31.
UNI returned from the locker room locked in offensively, using an 8-0 run to grab its first lead of the game at 42-39. The Panthers attacked the paint in the second period and in transition off Towson turnovers, shooting 60.7% from the floor, while also dominating at the charity stripe. UNI outscored the Tigers 26-6 in the paint in the final 20 minutes as Bowen Born and Cole Henry each scored 15 points in the half as the Panthers pulled away for the 17-win.
Born finished with a game-high 27 points, a career-best 8 assists in the win and 3 steals, while Henry recorded a career-high 15 points. Tytan Anderson tallied 14 points and a game-high 9 rebounds, with Landon Wolf notched 11 points.
PANTHER NOTES
Saturday’s game was the first all-time meeting between UNI and Towson.
The Panthers finished the game outscoring the Tigers 38-24 in the paint, and 28-2 off the bench.
UNI improves to 79-9 when scoring 80 or more points under head coach Ben Jacobson.
The Panthers’ 25 made free throws against Towson tie their season-high. UNI also made 25 free throws last month against Northern Illinois.
Bowen Born’s 27-point performance is tied for the 3rd highest scoring game of his career. The sophomore guard surpassed 700 career points in UNI’s win on Saturday, moving to 81st on the program’s all-time scoring list with 719 points.
Head coach Ben Jacobson picked up his 325th career win, moving him just 3 wins shy of passing former Creighton coach Dana Altman for 3rd on the Missouri Valley Conference’s (MVC) all-time wins list.
UP NEXT
The Panthers return home next Thursday, Dec. 22 for their non-conference finale against St. Bonaventure. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT at the McLeod Center. The game will be broadcast live on the Panther Sports Network/ESPN+ and on the Panther Sports Radio Network.
