(CEDAR FALLS, Iowa) – Northern Iowa overcame a late rally from Murray State to secure an 81-76 victory Saturday night at the McLeod Center, maintaining control despite the Racers’ furious second-half push.
The Panthers built an 11-point lead in the first half and led by as many as nine in the second, but Murray State refused to go away quietly. The Racers stormed back in the final minutes, pulling within two points with 36 seconds remaining when Javon Jackson converted a layup to make it 74-77.
UNI forward Trey Campbell led all scorers with a stellar all-around performance, while Will Hornseth and Leon Bond III provided crucial scoring throughout the contest. The Panthers shot efficiently from beyond the arc and capitalized on Murray State turnovers to build their cushion.
Roman Domon paced Murray State’s comeback effort with strong play in the paint and clutch free-throw shooting. The Racers went 3-for-3 from three-point range in the game’s final minute, including a dagger from Domon that cut the deficit to one point late in the first half before UNI extended their advantage.
Down the stretch, Northern Iowa sealed the victory at the free-throw line. Max Weisbrod hit critical free throws in the final 30 seconds, and Bond added another with four seconds left to provide the final margin.
Murray State had one last chance, but Jackson’s layup at the buzzer came after the outcome was decided, making the final score 81-76 in favor of the Panthers (13-8).
The loss drops Murray State to 16-5 despite a valiant effort that saw them outscore UNI 38-37 in the second half after trailing 38-37 at intermission.
