Tweet
TEAM Effort- Panther Bench keys big win
Coming into the season the big question surrounding the UNI Men's Basketball team was how new players in new roles would react to Valley competition. If Saturday afternoon is any indication, they are responding well.
Led by Grant Stout's 13 points and 11 rebounds, as well as 20 points from the Panther bench, UNI topped co-Valley unbeaten Southern Illinois 66-61 in front of a McLeod Center record 6,731 hostile fans.
"Southern Illinois is a tough, hard nosed team" said Panther First Year Coach Ben Jacobson, "We knew exactly what we were getting into today."
The first half would prove to be the defensive struggle that fans have come to expect in games with the Salukis. The half would go back and forth with the biggest lead for either coming on a pair of Grant Stout free throws with 54 seconds remaining in the half that gave UNI a 25-20 lead.
The second half had an ominous start for the Panthers as they would manage to score only 2 points in the first 6:25 against SIU's physical man to man defense. This allowed the Salukis to take their biggest lead of the game at 32-27 with 15:06 to go.
After a pair of Brooks McKowen free throws cut the Saluki lead to 3, the Panther bench took over. An Adam Viet three pointer would cut into the Saluki lead and key a run in which UNI would take a lead that they would never relinquish.
"Adam changes the way defenses can guard Coleman and Stout, and in the process gets himself some open looks," Said Jacobson, "More times than not, he is going to knock those looks down."
The play that brought the fans to their feet, however, was a driving layup by Freshman Adam Koch that tied the game at 34.
"Adam simply made a couple of big plays" Jacobson said.
First year starter Jared Josten knocked down a couple of big mid range jumpers in the second half that helped the Panthers maintain their lead, including a jumper that would give UNI a 10 point advantage with 4:03 to play. A Grant Stout dunk would again stretch the lead to 10 with 1:33 to go.
The Panthers would hit 6 of 9 free throws down the strech to hold off the Salukis.
"With three of the first four at home its important to be where we are," Jacobson said of being 4-0 in Valley play. "This league is too good to think you can steal an extra game or two on the road."
Notes-
-BIG BLOCK- Grant Stout recorded his 200th career block in the second half, further increasing his school record.
-SCOUTING: THE KEY- Saluki coach Chris Lowery hinted at why the Valley is so competitive night in and night out., "These teams are tough, that is why this league is so good. It scouts so well."
-TURNOVER- The Panther's committed 9 turnovers against the national top 10 Saluki defense, with only 2 of those coming in the second half. Senior leadership had something to do with that. "McKowen did the best job he's ever done hadling our pressure, " Lowery Said.
-TOP 25?- Jacobson worked around the question when asked after the game saying, "I don't get a vote, and I don't know how I would vote. We are not a good enough team to move beyond working to get better in practice every day."