U-N-I has dropped a half game out of first in the Missouri Valley Conference race. After leading by three at the half the Panthers faltered in the second half of play in a 63-55 loss at Creighton. Grant Stout had 17 points and ten rebounds for the Panthers. Stout on the postgame show on the U-N-ISports Network says they felt good about holding them to 23 points in the first half, but he says things didn’t go their way.
The loss came a day after the Panthers entered the A-P top 25 for the first time. Stout says they know now that all teams are going to want to beat them even more.
U-N-I played solid defense in the opening half to take the lead but the Blue Jays gained the momentum by hitting a trio of three pointers in the opening moments of the second half.
U-N-I coach Greg McDermott says the defense wasn’t bad to start the second half, but Creighton stepped up and made some shots. McDermott says they have to be credited with making those shots as he says the Panthers didn’t cash in when they had the chance. The Panthers are 19-4 overall and 9-3 in the Valley.