UNI Snaps Four-Game Skid With Record Shooting Night

The UNI Panthers snapped their four-game losing streak with a record-setting shooting performance. They defeated South Dakota State, 86-58, at the McLeod Center in Cedar Falls Wednesday night (Dec. 7, 2016).

UNI (4-4 overall) set a school mark and tied a Missouri Valley Conference record by making 20 three-pointers against the Jackrabbits (4-7). The Panthers also established a new team record by attempting 37 shots from behind the arc.

Junior Hunter Rhodes buried six three-pointers and scored a career-high 20 points for UNI off the bench. Senior Jeremy Morgan followed with 17 points.

The score was tied at 9-all when the Panthers broke the game open with a 12-0 run. A 19-2 spurt later in the first half extended UNI's lead to 28-11. The Panthers led 49-25 at intermission after making 13-of-23 3-point shots and shooting 55.2 percent from the field overall.

UNI built its largest lead of the game at 59-31 early in the second half. South Dakota State whittled the margin to 17 points after a 13-2 run, but Jordan Ashton hit a floater in the lane for the Panthers and Morgan sank a wide open jump shot from the elbow to push the lead back to 21 with 11:57 left in the game.

UP NEXT: UNI returns to the McLeod Center on Saturday, when the Panthers host North Dakota at 7 p.m. The Fighting Hawks are coached by former UNI player and Iowa assistant Brian Jones. North Dakota is also the alma mater of UNI Head Coach Ben Jacobson.