Sometimes the difference between winning and losing a game is razor-thin. For the UNI Panthers, the margin couldn't have been any tighter than it was Wednesday night (Jan. 11, 2018).

Indiana State (8-9 overall, 3-2 MVC) scored on a tip-in at the buzzer to post a 69-67 victory over the Panthers at the Hulman Center in Terre Haute, Ind. With the score tied, Jordan Brown brought the ball down the floor for the Sycamores and launched a three-pointer that missed. The errant shot, however, was tipped in by Brandon Murphy as the buzzer sounded, giving Indiana State a two-point win.

UNI (8-9, 0-5) had rallied from a five-point deficit in the final 20 seconds to knot the score on a three-pointer from Wyatt Lohaus and a layup by Tywhon Pickford after a steal.

Pickford tied a career-high with 18 points to lead the Panthers, and added seven rebounds.

Isaiah Brown also had a solid game for UNI. He scored 13 points, grabbed six rebounds, handed out five assists and tallied four steals.

The Panthers started the game slow, falling behind 9-0 early. They rallied, though, to score the game's next nine points as part of a 24-6 run. UNI eventually built an 11-point lead, at 26-15, with 7:34 remaining in the first half.

Coach Ben Jacobson's squad led Indiana State, 38-31, at the break.

The Sycamores came out of the locker room on fire to begin the second half. They buried four-straight three-pointer shots and tied the game at 44-all. The Panthers trailed by eight, at 61-53, with 5:43 left in the game before battling back to even it up at 67-67.

Barnes led Indiana State with a game-high 27 points. He also added nine rebounds.

The loss was the seventh-straight for struggling UNI.

UP NEXT: UNI will be back in action on Saturday against Valparaiso at 7 p.m. in the McLeod Center.

Story Contributor: Colin McDonough - UNI Sports Information Director

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