Sunday, February 23
Cedar Falls, Iowa
1 p.m.
Southern Illinois University
16-13,10-6MVC
52
at
64
Northern Iowa
23-5,12-4MVC
1
2
F
Southern Ill.
34
18
52
UNI
26
38
64
UNI surges past SIU in second half
02/23/2020 | 3:16:00 | Men's Basketball
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - The SIU men's basketball team went scoreless for eight minutes in the second half, and Northern Iowa took advantage with a 20-0 run en route to win a 64-52 win on UNI's Senior Day.
"Offensively, we didn't execute well enough to beat a team of this caliber," SIU head coach Bryan Mullins said. "We have to do a better job on the offensive boards, obviously. They really hurt us on the on offensive boards tonight."
SIU (16-13, 10-6 MVC) played outstanding defense all game, holding the high-powered Panthers (23-5, 12-4 MVC) to just 39.3% from the field. The Salukis did a great job against MVC Player of the Year candidate AJ Green, as well, limiting him to 2-for-12 shooting with four turnovers. And in the first half, the Salukis held Northern Iowa scoreless for eight-straight minutes to turn a 13-point deficit into an eight-point lead at halftime, 34-26.
But in the second half, it was SIU's turn for an eight minute scoring drought. Nothing went right for the Salukis during that stretch, including two missed front ends of 1-and-1's. SIU finished 7-for-14 from the free throw line.
Austin Phyfe and Isaiah Brown did the damage for UNI. The pair combined for 32 points on 13-of-22 shooting in the game, and Phyfe pulled in 18 rebounds. As a team, UNI outrebounded SIU 45-25, including 17-to-3 on the offensive glass.
"It's hard to guard consistently for a minute or a minute-and-a-half each possession, and they're a great offensive rebounding team, too," Mullins said.
The eyes in the MVC were on the game, with the upstart Salukis, with the most wins in MVC history for a team picked last in the preseason poll, facing a UNI team in the top-50 of the NET fighting for a chance at an NCAA Tournament at-large bid. An SIU win would have put the Salukis into a three-way tie for first place in the MVC with two games remaining. Instead, Northern Iowa holds a one-game lead over Loyola, and SIU remains tied for third with Bradley.
The Panthers jumped out of the gate on a 24-11 run before SIU's smothering defense held the Panthers to two points in the final 12 minutes of the first half. The Salukis went on a 19-0 run in that first half to silence a crowd of 6,497.
"Our guys know we can play with anyone in this league," Mullins said. "We have to find ways to win these types of games if we want to be a top team in this league. Going into (the conference tournament in) St. Louis, we have to find ways to execute better against the best teams in the league."
SIU started the second half well, taking two separate 10-point leads early in the second period. But center Barret Benson was whistled for three fouls in the opening two minutes of the second half; and when he went to the bench, UNI made its move.
"It threw us off a little bit," Mullins said of Benson's foul trouble. "We were playing well to start the second half, again, and it took some rhythm out."
The Panthers improved to 15-0 at home this season. Eric McGill, Lance Jones and Barret Benson scored in double figures for SIU. Harwin Francois provided a boost off the bench with three 3-pointers.
UP NEXT: SIU hosts Indiana State on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
"Offensively, we didn't execute well enough to beat a team of this caliber," SIU head coach Bryan Mullins said. "We have to do a better job on the offensive boards, obviously. They really hurt us on the on offensive boards tonight."
SIU (16-13, 10-6 MVC) played outstanding defense all game, holding the high-powered Panthers (23-5, 12-4 MVC) to just 39.3% from the field. The Salukis did a great job against MVC Player of the Year candidate AJ Green, as well, limiting him to 2-for-12 shooting with four turnovers. And in the first half, the Salukis held Northern Iowa scoreless for eight-straight minutes to turn a 13-point deficit into an eight-point lead at halftime, 34-26.
But in the second half, it was SIU's turn for an eight minute scoring drought. Nothing went right for the Salukis during that stretch, including two missed front ends of 1-and-1's. SIU finished 7-for-14 from the free throw line.
Austin Phyfe and Isaiah Brown did the damage for UNI. The pair combined for 32 points on 13-of-22 shooting in the game, and Phyfe pulled in 18 rebounds. As a team, UNI outrebounded SIU 45-25, including 17-to-3 on the offensive glass.
"It's hard to guard consistently for a minute or a minute-and-a-half each possession, and they're a great offensive rebounding team, too," Mullins said.
The eyes in the MVC were on the game, with the upstart Salukis, with the most wins in MVC history for a team picked last in the preseason poll, facing a UNI team in the top-50 of the NET fighting for a chance at an NCAA Tournament at-large bid. An SIU win would have put the Salukis into a three-way tie for first place in the MVC with two games remaining. Instead, Northern Iowa holds a one-game lead over Loyola, and SIU remains tied for third with Bradley.
The Panthers jumped out of the gate on a 24-11 run before SIU's smothering defense held the Panthers to two points in the final 12 minutes of the first half. The Salukis went on a 19-0 run in that first half to silence a crowd of 6,497.
"Our guys know we can play with anyone in this league," Mullins said. "We have to find ways to win these types of games if we want to be a top team in this league. Going into (the conference tournament in) St. Louis, we have to find ways to execute better against the best teams in the league."
SIU started the second half well, taking two separate 10-point leads early in the second period. But center Barret Benson was whistled for three fouls in the opening two minutes of the second half; and when he went to the bench, UNI made its move.
"It threw us off a little bit," Mullins said of Benson's foul trouble. "We were playing well to start the second half, again, and it took some rhythm out."
The Panthers improved to 15-0 at home this season. Eric McGill, Lance Jones and Barret Benson scored in double figures for SIU. Harwin Francois provided a boost off the bench with three 3-pointers.
UP NEXT: SIU hosts Indiana State on Wednesday at 7 p.m.
Team Stats
SIU
UNI
FG%
.413
.393
3FG%
.438
.350
FT%
.500
.692
RB
25
45
TO
11
14
STL
8
6
Game Leaders
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Pts
11
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
2
Pts
10
FGM
4
3FGM
1
FTM
1
Pts
9
FGM
3
3FGM
3
FTM
0
Players Mentioned
C
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