UNI Keeps Illinois State Winless At McLeod [Gallery]

The UNI Panthers bounced back from a mid-week hiccup and scored a 75-66 victory over Illinois State in the McLeod Center Saturday afternoon (Feb. 20, 2016).

UNI (17-12 overall, 9-7 MVC) earned a split of the season series with the Redbirds (17-12, 11-5 MVC). The Panthers also recorded their 12 consecutive victory over the Redbirds in Cedar Falls, dating back to 2004. Illinois State is winless in its 10 trips to the McLeod Center, and the Redbirds lost their last two appearances in the UNI-Dome.

The Panthers recorded their ninth Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) victory of the season, which allows them to clinch at least a .500 mark in league games for the 13th-straight year.

UNI led by as many as 19 points in the second half before the Redbirds charged back and cut the lead to three at 49-46 with 10:25 left in the game. The Panthers responded with a 14-5 run to push the lead back to 63-51 with 5:18 remaining.

All five starters reached double-figure scoring for UNI, led by senior Wes Washpun's 18 points. Junior Jeremy Morgan scored 13 to go along with a career-high five blocks.

Senior Paul Jesperson knocked in a pair of three-pointers, grabbed six rebounds and scored 12 points. Senior Matt Bohannon drained two three-pointers and tallied 10 points. Sophomore Bennett Koch narrowly missed a double-double with 10 points and nine rebounds.

UP NEXT: UNI will honor its three seniors Wednesday night, when the Panthers host the Indiana State Sycamores. Tip is set for 7 p.m. in the McLeod Center.