By Austin Duncan.
CEDAR FALLS, IA- The Illinois State Redbirds’ season long five game winning streak came to an end at the hand of Northern Iowa’s Panthers 75-66 at the McLeod Center in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
Northern Iowa broke the ice in the first half with a dunk by Wes Washpun 16 seconds into the game.
Illinois State answered, scoring six straight points capped by a free throw by Tony Wills.
The Panthers used a 19-5 run to capture a 21-11 lead with 9:56 remaining in the first half, forcing ISU head coach Dan Muller to use a time out.
Following the time out the Redbirds hit back-to-back-to 3-pointers to get within one point forcing a timeout from UNI’s Ben Jacobson. Illinois State was able to tie the game at 22 at the 6:39 on make by Quintin Brewer.
UNI then rattled off another run, this one 18-4 ending the half with the Redbirds trailing 40-26.
The Panthers started the second half how it left off the first, on a 5-0 run, expanding its lead to 19 points.
Illinois State would rattle off a 12-0 run to cut UNI’s lead 45-38 with 12:48 remaining.
Northern Iowa’s Matt Bohannon halted Illinois State’s run with a pair of free throws. The Panthers went nearly seven minutes without scoring a field goal, Bennett Koch ended the drought with 10:48 to play, giving UNI a 49-43 lead.
The Redbirds would cut the defect to as low as three points after Paris Lee converted a free throw after the foul.
A Bohannon 3-pointer sparked gave Northern Iowa another eight point lead which would balloon to as many as 14 at the 3:39 mark.
Illinois State would get as close as eight once more but another Bohannon 3-pointer ended the Redbirds hopes of coming back.
The Redbirds were paced by Paris Lee’s 14 points. Tony Wills collected 13 points while Deontae Hawkins and Justin McCloud collected 12 and 11, respectively. Paris Lee added seven assists and six rebounds to his stat line. Quintin Brewer also added six rebounds.
Devaughn Akoon-Purcell did not play in the second half. Head coach Dan Muller says the reason is because Akoon-Purcell has been battling an illness.
All five Northern Iowa starters scored in double figures led by Wes Washpun’s 18 points. Bennett Koch nearly completed a double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds. Washpun added five assists.
This game seemed as an inverse to the first meeting between the two team’s this season. Illinois State won at Redbirds Arena 76-67 on January 23.
The Redbirds fall to 17-12 on the season and 11-5 in the MVC. Illinois State cannot place lower than the five seed in the Missouri Valley Conference tournament, which begins March 3 in Saint Louis, Missouri. With Evansville’s win over Southern Illinois, the Redbirds and Aces are tied for second place in the MVC.
Northern Iowa is also 17-12 on the season and sits at 9-7 and fifth place in the MVC.
The Redbirds return to action Wednesday for senior night as it hosts Southern Illinois for an early 6 p.m. tip. Redbird Preview will begin at 5 p.m. Senior Day activities will begin at approximately 5:45 p.m. at Redbird Arena.
This will be the last regular season chance for fans to see Quintin Brewer, Justin McCloud, and Devaughn Akoon-Purcell.
Listen to postgame comments from head coach Dan Muller here.
Listen to postgame comments from Paris Lee here.
