CEDAR FALLS – A barrage of first-half three-point shots and a season-high first half scoring total propelled the UNI men’s basketball team to victory on Sunday afternoon as the Panthers picked up consecutive wins for the first time this season in a 100-82 win over Alcorn State inside the McLeod Center.
Northern Iowa sank a season-high 14 three-point field goals in the win while scoring a season-best 62 first-half points as part of the program’s first 100-point outing since November of 2022. The Panthers also recorded new season high-water marks for overall field goal percentage (56.7%), three-point shooting (48.3%) and free throw percentage (85.7%).
Alcorn State’s offense tested the Panthers in the opening minutes with a quick-paced offense, but UNI would pull ahead and stretch its lead to as many as 21 points thanks to an impressive three-point shooting percentage. Northern Iowa knocked down 11 three-point baskets in the first half on 68.8% shooting, while scoring a first-half season high in points (62) on a season-best 69% first period shooting clip. Drawing contact from the Braves, UNI also shot 11-of-13 from the charity strip as Nate Heise led the game at the break with 17 points, while Bowen Born tallied 11 points in the opening stanza as the Panthers took a 62-41 lead into halftime.
UNI pushed the pace inside the paint in the second half, outscoring the Braves 20-12 inside the lane. Capitalizing on the afternoon with second chance scoring opportunities, the Panthers racked up ten points on second chance shots, pushing their lead to as many as 29 points as Born erupted for a 16-point second half. Heise recorded seven points in the second stanza as Northern Iowa shot 45.2% from the field, holding on to a double-digit lead for the entire half en route to the 18-point victory.
Heise led UNI with a game-high 24-point performance with a career-high five made three-pointers and four assists. Tytan Anderson finished the afternoon with a season-high 22 points on seven-of-eight shooting with five assists, while Born dropped 17 points with a team-high six assists. Michael Duax notched ten points in the win, as Trey Campbell scored nine points on three made three-point baskets, while pulling down a game-high seven rebounds. Kyle Pock and Jacob Hutson both finished with seven points each.
ADDITIONAL NOTES
UNI improves to 2-0 all-time against Alcorn State following the first meeting between the program’s since Nov. 17, 2017.
Northern Iowa is now 8-0 all-time against opponents from the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC)
UNI’s 14 made three-pointers against Alcorn State were the most since the program’s 2022 first round NIT game at Saint Louis when the Panthers hit 16 three’s against the Billikens.
The Panthers have made at least eight three-point field goals in each of their last six games, including 10+ made three-pointers in three of their last five.
UNI improves to 81-12 (.870) when scoring at least 80 points under head coach Ben Jacobson. The Panthers are 5-0 during that stretch when posting 100+ points.
Bowen Born moved past Jeremy Morgan (2013-17) for 20th on UNI’s all-time scoring list, while Nate Heise jumped to 85th on the list. Heise’s 24-point game was his third career game of 20+ points and second consecutive.
Northern Iowa is now just three victories shy of reaching 700 wins as a Division I program, and nine wins shy of the team’s 1,400th all-time win.
UP NEXT
The Panthers return to action on Thursday night in their non-conference finale at Northern Illinois. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT with live coverage available on ESPN+ and the Panther Sports Radio Network.
