SPRINGFIELD, MISSOURI – UNI led for just over three quarters of the game but had to rally late to secure its first conference win of the season Wednesday night in a 64-62 victory over the Missouri State Bears at Great Southern Bank Arena.
The Panthers have now won their last four games dating back to December, the program’s longest winning streak since last January, and evened its season record at 7-7. Northern Iowa also notched its 699th all-time win as a Division I program on Wednesday, and improved to 12-2 at Missouri State since 2008.
UNI’s offense started hot inside the arc, making its first five shot attempts of the game and eight of its first ten shots. Led by an 11-point first half by Jacob Hutson, who drew three “and-one” fouls on layups, the Panthers built an impressive 13-point advantage in the first seven minutes thanks to a commanding edge in the battle for rebounds. Missouri State came out strong in the final ten minutes of the opening stanza, cutting Northern Iowa’s lead to just two points in the waning minutes and stifling the Panther offense with a five minute, 21-second scoring drought and five blocks. Nate Heise provided a late spark for the purple and gold with a late three-point basket with Hutson draining a pair of late free throws to give UNI a 33-29 lead into the halftime break.
Missouri State continued to chip away at Northern Iowa’s lead in the second half in a single-digit battle for the final 20 minutes. With Born leading the way with a 12-point second half, UNI overcame a Bears’ surge that saw Missouri State take its first lead of the night with just over five minutes to play. Continuing to dominate the glass, featuring seven offensive rebounds, the Panther defense locked down and re-took the lead with a go-ahead layup by Born, followed up by a corner three-point field goal in the final 90 seconds. Maintaining ball control with just three second-half turnovers, UNI was able to hold on for the two-point victory.
Born finished the night with a team-high 21 points, five rebounds and two assists, while Hutson recorded a season-best 19-point game, shooting 8-of-12 from the floor. Tytan Anderson posted eight points and eight rebounds, as Trey Campbell recorded a game-high nine rebounds to complement a six-point scoring effort. Heise finished with four points and five boards, while Cole Henry, Michael Duax and RJ Taylor each scored two points.
ADDITIONAL NOTES
Missouri State leads the all-time series 46-41 after UNI’s win on Wednesday night. The Panthers have also won ten of their last 11 games against the Bears.
In addition to moving within one win of the program’s 700th Division I victory, UNI also grabbed its 1,393rd win all-time.
Ben Jacobson has now won 184 games in MVC play, three victories shy of tying former Oklahoma State coach Henry P. Iba for the league’s all-time record.
Northern Iowa dominated the battle for rebounds against the MVC’s top rebounding team, grabbing 37 boards to Missouri State’s 29. UNI also outrebounded the Bears 11-3 on offensive rebounds.
Tytan Anderson has scored at least one point in 46 consecutive games.
Bowen Born’s 21-point performance moves him to 15th on UNI’s all-time scoring list with 1,258 points.
UP NEXT
The Panthers return home to begin a brief two-game homestand as they host the league-leading Indiana State Sycamores on Sunday, Jan. 10. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT at the McLeod Center with live coverage available on ESPN+ and the Panther Sports Radio Network.
