UNI drops fifth straight despite late second half push. 

NORMAL, Ill. (AP) — Boden Skunberg’s 20 points helped Illinois State defeat Northern Iowa 59-54 on Wednesday night.

Skunberg also had eight rebounds for the Redbirds (14-6, 6-3 Missouri Valley Conference). Ty’Reek Coleman scored eight points while going 2 of 3 and 4 of 4 from the free-throw line. Chase Walker had seven points and shot 1 of 5 from the field and 5 for 5 from the foul line.

Ben Schwieger led the Panthers (12-8, 4-5) in scoring, finishing with 15 points. Northern Iowa also got 10 points, seven rebounds and two blocks from Will Hornseth. Leon Bond III also had 10 points and six rebounds.

Illinois State went into the half ahead of Northern Iowa 24-16. Skunberg put up eight points in the half. Skunberg scored Illinois State’s last six points as the Redbirds finished off a five-point victory.

UNI NOTES

• UNI falls to 47-46 all-time against Illinois State with the loss. Each of the Panthers’ last three matchups with the Redbirds have been decided by five points or less.
• Wednesday night was the 11th time the Panthers have held their opponent under 60 points, falling to 9-2 in such games.
• Northern Iowa held Illinois State to 28% shooting from beyond the three-point arc (7-of-25), the ninth time in the last ten games the Panthers have held their opponent under 30% from three-point range. UNI has also made at least one three-point basket in 167 consecutive games.
• Both the Panthers and Redbirds recorded season-lows in assists, while Illinois State held UNI to a season-low 16 first half points. Illinois State’s 24 first half points were the second fewest scored this year.
• Leon Bond III sits 48 points shy of scoring his 500th point as a Panther.

UP NEXT
The Panthers return to action on Saturday, Jan. 24 when they host league-leading Murray State. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m. CT at the McLeod Center with live coverage available on CBS Sports Network and the Panther Sports Radio Network (93.5 The Mix).