Boxscore

EVANSVILLE, Ind. -- If there was any question why Northern Iowa is first in the Missouri Valley Conference, the question was answered Tuesday night by the Panthers' defense.  UNI won its fifth game in a row and used a swarming defense to end the University of Evansville's 10-game homecourt winning streak at Roberts Stadium, 58-47.

The Panthers (11-6, 5-1) are tied with Bradley for first place in the MVC.  Tuesday's loss dropped the Aces (11-5, 3-3) to sixth in the MVC going into Saturday's 7:05 home game against Indiana State.

The Panthers held Evansville to just 18 field goals in 55 attempts for a season-low 33 percent shooting.  Down 22-11 late in the first half, UE finally put together a seven-point run to cut the margin to 22-18.  It was still a four-point game in the final 90 seconds of the half at 24-20, but the Panthers scored the final four points of the first half and the first eight of the second half to pull ahead 36-20.  Evansville came no closer than 10 the rest of the way.

MVC scoring leader Shy Ely was held to a season-low seven points, more than 10 below his average.  Jason Holsinger scored only four, nine points below his average.  Senior Nate Garner led UE with 12, and freshmen Kaylon Williams and Denver Holmes chipped in 11 each.  UNI, with six players scoring six points or more, was led by the 11 of guard Ali Farokhmanesh and 10 from guard Kwadzo Ahelegbe.  UNI is 3-0 on the road in the MVC for the first time since joining the league 17 years ago.  The Panthers had already won at Southern Illinois and Creighton before ending UE's 10-game win streak at Roberts Stadium.