The University of Northern Iowa men’s basketball team escaped a sold out JQH Arena in Springfield, Mo., with a 60-59 victory over the Missouri State University Bears Sunday. Junior guard Johnny Moran sunk a pair of free throws with 5.2 seconds remaining to give the Panthers a one point advantage. However, the game wasn’t over until the Bear’s Adam Leonard missed a running jumper in the lane as time expired.
The Panthers (17-6, 8-3 MVC) have now won seven consecutive games and sit alone in third place in the Missouri Valley Conference. After starting conference play 1-3, the Panthers are just one game out of a first-place tie with Wichita State University (18-4, 9-2 MVC) and MSU (17-5, 9-2 MVC) with seven conference games remaining.
The Panthers trailed 52-44 with 10:08 remaining in the game before rallying for the victory. UNI went on a 9-0 run to take its first lead since an 8-7 lead early in the contest. Senior forward Lucas O’Rear scored the first four points of the run, then sophomore forward Jake Koch drained a three-pointer out of the right corner before sophomore guard Anthony James gave the Panthers the lead with 6:10 left in the game. The lead would change hands eight times in the final 6:10 of the game as momentum swung in both directions.
MSU’s Kyle Weems gave the Bears a 57-56 lead with 1:07 on the clock, but Koch scored a bucket in the lane with 42.7 seconds left to put the Panthers back on top, 58-57. Weems then drained an 18-footer with 18.2 seconds left to give the Bears the lead again to 59-58.
However, UNI would score the final points of the game as sophomore guard Marc Sonnen missed a three-pointer from the top of the key, but Moran flew in and grabbed the rebound. Moran was fouled in the act of shooting with 5.2 seconds left. Moran then calmly sunk both free throws.
UNI was led in scoring by James, who scored 17 points. MSU was led in scoring by Weems, who scored 18 points for the Bears.
Weems hit the game-winning three-pointer against the Panthers in Cedar Falls on Dec. 29, snapping UNI’s 21-game home court winning streak. The Panthers returned the favor Sunday night, snapping the Bear’s 19-game home court winning streak.
UNI returns to action Wednesday night when they host the Illinois State University Redbirds. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.
