U-N-I claimed a Missouri Valley Conference thriller Monday night in the dome as the Panthers edged Southern Illinois 71-65 in double overtime. U-N-I coach Greg McDermott said it was a huge victory for his team. He says they’ve been a really tough basketball team, and he says that’s one of the best compliments to the team.

Both teams fought back when they were in trouble. McDermott says they couldn’t put Southern away in regulation, and then the Salukis couldn’t put his team away in overtime. McDermott says they didn’t turn the ball over in overtime and that was a key to the win.