The U.N.I. Panthers picked up their first Missouri Valley Conference victory with a 65-48 win over Indiana State at the McLeod Center.
U.N.I. held the Sycamores to just 16 first half points and U.N.I. coach Ben Jacobson says that the Panthers’ defensive effort was the biggest difference between last night’s game and U.N.I.’s two MVC losses.
“Our decisions were just much more aggressive, and a lot of that is on my shoulders, you know how we prepare, what we emphasize,” Jacobson said.
Indiana State head coach Greg Lansing said U.N.I. simply got back to playing the style of basketball that they are known for. He says the team he saw on tape in the last three games was uncharacteristic of them.
U.N.I. guard Johnny Moran says that some pretty intense practices really got U.N.I. focused on how Indiana State would try to attack the Panther defense. Moran says they have been concentrating a lot on defense and the attention to detail.
Both U.N.I. and Indiana State are now 1-2 in league play. The Panthers will go back on the road this Saturday as they take on Drake.
By Elwin Huffman KOEL, Oelwein/Jesse Gavin, KCNZ, Cedar Falls