From UNI Athletics
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa – A tough battle of three-pointers and free throws left the Panthers behind the Braves on Monday night, 75-73. The Panthers fell short at the end when Trae Berhow’s put-back fell seconds late.
The Panthers and the Braves traded the lead throughout the game, exchanging 12 lead changes within the first half alone. In the first 14 minutes of the game, Berhow and Bowen Born knocked down back-to-back threes giving the Panthers the early two-point lead.
At the eight-minute mark, the Panthers led the game, 18-17, but the Braves’ momentum was only beginning. The Braves wouldn’t let the Panthers see more than a three-point lead until after halftime.
With 11:00 left in the second half, the game started to resemble a three-point contest. Berhow and Bradley’s Reink Mast along with freshman Nate Heise hit threes within 40 seconds of each other. Carter added two from behind the arc and Berhow added another before the game ended.
Free throws allowed the Panthers to continue to threaten the Braves as the MVC rival shot 61.5% (8-13) from the line in the second half.
In the final moments, Born was sent to the line and made one, the freshman guard rebounded his miss with a three-point shot for the win. The final shot bounced off the rim with Berhow making the put-back just moments too late.
Born recorded a new career-high led the Panthers tonight with 17 points and Berhow recorded 15. Cole Henry would set his career-high with five assists while Austin Phyfe recorded a team-high 11 rebounds.
THE PANTHERS
- Cole Henry recorded a career-high of five assists.
- Freshman Bowen Born recorded a career-high 17 points.
- UNI went 65.2% from the free-throw line and 37.5% from behind the arc.
- Panthers led for 14:48
- UNI scored 11 points off turnovers
- Uni’s bench accounted for 34 of the teams 73 points
THE BRAVES
- Elijah Childs and Ja’Shon Henry led the Braves with 16 points
- Childs hauled in a team-high 8 rebounds
- Bradley held the lead for 17:10
- Bradley scored 22 points off turnovers
- The Braves scored 34 points in the paint
UP NEXT
The Panthers travel to Chicago, Ill. to play Loyola on Jan. 15 and 16. After the split series, the Panthers are now 3-8 overall and 2-4 in conference play. Loyola remains 8-3 overall and 3-1 in conference play. Saturday’s game tips off at 5 p.m., with pregame to start at 4:30 p.m. on News/Talk 1540 KXEL.
