Boxscore

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- Northern Iowa used its three-point shooting to pull away here Tuesday night and give the Panthers (10-5, 1-2) a 65-53 Missouri Valley Conference victory over the University of Evansville (7-6, 1-2).

Four different Panthers totaled eight three-pointers to make the difference, led by three from Marc Sonnen and two each from Jake Koch and Johnny Moran.

Northern Iowa never trailed, going up 5-0 and 20-10 before the Aces went on a 7-0 run with baskets from Kavon Lacey, Clint Hopf and Ned Cox to make it a 27-23 game in the final three minutes.  The Panthers took a 30-23 lead into halftime, and extended the margin to 11 at 41-30 before Evansville came right back to cut the deficit to four on two Denver Holmes technical free throws with 13:57 to play.  

That's as close as Evansville could get, however, as Northern Iowa used its three-point shooting and free throws to pull ahead by 12 in the final six minutes, and then put it away with five straight points two minutes later.

"Give Northern Iowa credit; they're very tough to score against," said coach Marty Simmons.  "We thought we had a good opportunity to come on the road and be successful, but they always came up with the big play and the big basket when they needed it."

Colt Ryan scored 15 to lead the Aces, Cox added 12 and Holmes scored 11.

Evansville plays its second straight MVC road game Friday at Missouri State before returning home Sunday to face the Creighton Bluejays at 3:35.