Panthers claw ISU’s men’s basketball 65-60 to end season

Coming into today’s game Illinois State men’s basketball has become awfully familiar with the Northern Iowa Panthers.

The two teams met up for the final two games of the regular season where they swept ISU at home. Facing off at Arch Madness proved the same result: a UNI win. The Panthers moved onto game two of Arch Madness with a 65-60 win.

ISU head coach Dan Muller saw the same problems in all three games with the Panthers.

“I think all three games,” Muller said. “We lost for the same reasons, turnovers and not making good looks from three. We shot about 20% from three-point range the last three games. They are certainly not trying to miss them. Not making open shots and turnovers definitely cost us the last three games and tonight.”

Early on the teams played a close match-up, with neither team being able to stretch out much of a lead. Each team was able to take a one or two-possession lead but nothing more.

Near the second media timeout, ISU was able to get some traction and push ahead. Abdou Ndiaye opened the 7-point scoring stretch with a dunk. Dedric Boyd and DJ Horne followed with a pair of three-pointers to give the Redbirds the largest lead of the game 21-14.

But the Panthers kicked it into gear after that with a 7-0 stretch of their own that knotted the game at 23. UNI’s junior Forward Austin Phyfe was key during that run having 5-of-7 points.

Phyfe created problems for the Redbirds the whole night. Working as a one-man wrecking machine, Phyfe carried the Panthers with 13 points in the first half, while no other Panther had over 4 points in the half.

Muller made the early decision to focus on the deep ball instead of the big man.

“He is a really good player, that is where it starts,” Muller said. “We made the decision to not trap or double team him to focus on the three-point defense. He is difficult one on one.”

Despite only one Panther successfully scoring in the first half, the Redbirds were unable to take advantage. In the first half ISU hurt themselves more than the Panthers hurt them as they had 10 turnovers going into the locker-room. UNI had just 4.

ISU junior forward Dusan Mahorcic noted how turnovers from him hurt the team’s chance.

That seven-point run boosted the Panthers to a 30-29 lead going into halftime. Coming out of halftime, neither team was able to make a significant run. ISU took an early six-point lead but as quickly as they gained it the game was tied again.

With limited fans in the stands, Northern Iowa fans were extra vocal in supporting their team, especially compared to ISU’s fans.

With the small number of fans backing them, UNI began to pull ahead with three minutes left in the game. With only a 62-56 lead, defense was key in the Panthers limiting the Redbirds. UNI shut down the Redbirds as they scored just two points in the final four minutes of the game.

“We did not excucute our defense in those next couple of plays,” Mahorcic said. “It was kind of like a punch to the mouth for us.”

While Mahorcic cited poor defense, Muller blamed missing shots for the Redbirds’ six points in the last five minutes.

“A lot of it was missed shots,” Muller said. “There is nothing so wrong with missed shots. A lot of it was just missing good looks. We did not turn the ball over a ton, in the end, we just could not make the good shots.”

Under a minute left and the Redbirds were not out of it with the game at 62-58, all the Redbirds needed was to put a pair of possessions together. UNI’s leading player Trae Berhow finished off the Redbirds with a three-pointer from the top of the key to putting away the Redbirds for good.

“It was emotional,” Mahorcic said. “I play emotionally and leave everything on the court. He made only one or two before that. They played well and made shots at the end that we did not. They deserved to win.”

Phyfe led the game with 21 points.

Dusan Mahorcic led the way for the Redbirds with 15. Mahorcic finished all three games with over 15 points against the Panthers.

“I don’t think it was anything about Northern Iowa,” Mahorcic said. “It was the training the last couple of weeks. Me and coach and some other players have been working out and doing one-on-one. That helped me a lot and helped me simplify my game.”

Sophomore’s DJ Horne and Antonio Reeves finished with 10.

After putting up 35 points last Saturday, the Panthers made it a focus to limit Horne.

“He played really well the last time we played, he is a great player,” UNI Freshman Bowen Born said. There was a lot of focus on him. It was a lot of personal pride being able to stop his drives.”

With the loss, the Redbirds finished the season with a 7-18 record and a 4-15 record in the Missouri Valley. ISU has lost during the play-in game the last two seasons.

“I look at this season as big growth for the team, not just me,” Mahorcic said. “A lot of guys including me it was the first time playing in the Valley. We did not finish how we wanted to we have a big offseason to get ready for next year. It will definitely be better than next year.”

UNI will play Drake at 5 p.m. on Friday.