Success In Seattle: UNI Gets NCAA Tournament Win

Not many teams can get outscored 14-0 in the second half of an NCAA Tournament game and advance to the next round. UNI not only withstood the rally, it regained control and posted a lop-sided victory over Wyoming this afternoon (March 20, 2015).

The 5th-seeded Panthers avoided being upset by No. 12 seed Wyoming (25-10) in a second-round East Region game. They got double-digit scoring from five players in a 71-54 victory over the Cowboys at Key Arena in Seattle, Wash.

The win was the largest for UNI during March Madness. Prior to today, all nine of the Panthers' previous NCAA Tournament games had been decided by seven points or less.

UNI (31-3) took control of the game five minutes after the tip-off. Trailing 9-8 at the 14:53 mark, Wes Washpun's layup put the Panthers ahead for good and triggered a 10-0 run. They built the lead to 35-24 at halftime and extended the margin to 21 points with an 11-2 run to start the second half.

That's when the momentum switched in Wyoming 's favor.

Behind Larry Nance Jr., the team's star player, the Cowboys made their biggest push of the game. The 6-foot-8 senior forward led a comeback by tallying 13 straight points, an effort that helped cut UNI's lead to 50-43 with 10:35 remaining.

The Panthers responded with a 6-0 run to push the lead back to 14 and Wyoming never got closer.

Nance scored 15 of his team-high 16 points in the second half, and led two Wyoming players in double-figures.

Paul Jesperson led a balanced scoring effort for UNI, tallying 16 points off the bench. Seth Tuttle tallied 14 points, Nate Buss added 13, and Deon Mitchell and Washpun each chipped in 10. Led by Jesperson, Buss and Washpun, UNI's reserves outscored Wyoming's reserves 41-2.

UP NEXT: UNI will play Louisville on Sunday, also in Seattle. The time will be determined later tonight. Louisville, the No. 4 seed, survived an upset bid by No. 13 seed UC-Irvine, 57-55, in today's second game at Key Arena.

NOTES: UNI set a school record with 31 wins ... UNI's 41 bench points was the fourth-highest single-game total this season for the Panthers ... UNI improved to 4-6 all-time in the NCAA Tournament ... it is the third win in the round of 64 for the Panthers (UNI also won round of 64 games in 1990 and 2010) ... Seth Tuttle started his 135th career game - tying him for first place on UNI's all-time games started list with Johnny Moran (2008-2012) ... Deon Mitchell started his 114th career game tying him for No. 5 on UNI's list with Eric Coleman (2004-2008) ... Tuttle played in his 135th career game tying him for No. 3 on the Panthers's all-time list with Johnny Moran and Chip Rank ... Mitchell played in his 134th game, which moves him into the No. 6 slot at UNI ... Mitchell added three assists to give him 370 in his career and move into a tie for No. 5 on UNI's all-time assist list with Chris Foster (2000-2005).