The UNI Panthers overcame a nine-point second-half deficit and rallied for a 65-60 win over Indiana State at the McLeod Center in Cedar Falls Saturday afternoon (Feb. 4, 2017).

Indiana State (8-16 overall, 2-10 MVC) built a 46-37 lead with 9:47 left in the game following a layup from Donovan Franklin. The Panthers cut into the lead quickly on a layup from freshman Juwan McCloud and a three-pointer from redshirt freshman Spencer Haldeman to make it a four-point game with 9:17 remaining.

UNI (11-12 overall, 6-6 MVC) knotted the game at 52-52 following a pair of free throws from McCloud with 3:20 left in the game. McCloud's free throws capped a 15-6 run for the Panthers. Indiana State's Jordan Barnes drilled a triple with 2:50 left to sway the momentum back to the Sycamores, only to have senior Jeremy Morgan answer on the other end with a conventional three-point play to tie it again at 55-55.

UNI senior Jordan Ashton sank a pair from the foul line with 1:52 left to give the Panthers a 57-55 cushion. But a tip in from Indiana State's Emondre Rickman, which capped a perfect day from the field for him as he drained all five shots, tied the contest at 57-57 with 1:26 remaining.

McCloud wasted little time after the tip as he drove to the bucket and scored on a layup with 1:13 left that gave the Panthers the lead for good. Following a missed layup from Indiana State's Brenton Scott, UNI junior Klint Carlson floated a layup in off the glass with 20.8 seconds left to give the Panthers a four-point lead at 61-57. Scott rushed the ball down the floor and buried a three-pointer to cut the lead to 61-60 with 14.5 seconds left. However, Scott fouled out on the ensuing inbounds pass and Morgan sank two free throws to put UNI back up three. Indiana State's Laquarious Paige missed a jumper and Morgan corralled the rebound and sank two more free throws with :01 left to ice the win for the Panthers.

UNI had all five starters reach double-figure scoring for the first time this season, with Bennett Koch's 14 points leading led the way. Morgan tallied 12 points, scoring all of them in the half.

UP NEXT: UNI will be back in action Wednesday at home in the McLeod Center against the Southern Illinois Salukis. Tip is set for 7 p.m.

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