UNI’s lead in the Missouri Valley Conference race is now two games following last night’s 66-61 victory over Bradley in Cedar Falls. The Panthers trailed for more than three-quarters of the game before rallying from a 10-point second-half deficit to post their seventh-straight win.

UNI Coach Ben Jacobson, says it was a really good game where both teams played hard and Bradley made it tough by getting off to a great start. Jacobson’s team is now 7-1 in league play and 13-6 overall.

Sophomore forward Lucas O’Rear says perseverance was a key to the victory. He says they kept picking each other up and telling each other to hang in and chip away at the lead. Ali Farokhmanesh scored 17 points to lead four UNI players in double-figures.

The junior guard from Iowa City says everyone on the team is playing with more confidence since a 6-6 start to the season, although he says they’ve always had confidence in themselves. He says they know there is a long ways to go.

 

Coach Jacobson says the Panthers are playing with more toughness now than earlier in the year, adding UNI needs to build off the hard-fought home court win. He says they have to continue to make strides on their home floor after playing well in three games.

Jacobson says the better you play and the more confidence you gain, the more pride you take in it. The Panthers play three of their next four games on the road, starting with Sunday night’s contest at Missouri State.