Northern Iowa defeats Valparaiso 58-48
Valparaiso Falls Short at Northern Iowa
The visiting Valparaiso Crusaders came up just short in their conference matchup against the Panthers of Northern Iowa, falling 58-48 on the road at the McLeod Center.
In a tightly contested game that saw neither team lead for more than two possessions at any given time, the Panthers ultimately emerged victorious. The difference between the two teams was largely due to their efficiency from the field and beyond.
Northern Iowa's offense clicked into high gear in the first half, with Will Hornseth leading the way with 16 points on an efficient 58.3% shooting clip. Trey Campbell added 12 points of his own, including three assists, as the Panthers built a slim halftime lead of 22-22.
In the second half, the Panthers continued to excel, particularly from beyond the arc, where they converted just four of 12 attempts. Hornseth chipped in with seven rebounds and one steal, while Campbell's all-around performance helped Northern Iowa build a comfortable cushion.
Valparaiso, meanwhile, struggled to find its rhythm on offense, shooting just 29.0% from the field and 13.0% from three. Owen Dease led the way for the Crusaders with 18 points, but his team was unable to overcome the deficit.
The largest lead of the game belonged to Northern Iowa, which built a 10-point advantage in the first half. However, Valparaiso managed to trim that margin down to just two before halftime, setting up a thrilling second-half showdown.
In the end, it was the Panthers who came out on top, capitalizing on their edge in efficiency to secure a hard-fought victory.
Game Stats
Northern Iowa (HOME)
* Field Goals: 20/43 (47.0%)
* 2-Point FG: 16/31 (51.6%)
* 3-Point FG: 4/12 (33.0%)
* Free Throws: 14/18 (78.0%)
* Rebounds: 32 (Off: 4, Def: 28)
* Assists: 11
* Turnovers: 10
* Steals: 6
* Blocks: 4
Valparaiso (AWAY)
* Field Goals: 17/58 (29.0%)
* 2-Point FG: 14/35 (40.0%)
* 3-Point FG: 3/23 (13.0%)
* Free Throws: 11/14 (79.0%)
* Rebounds: 37 (Off: 15, Def: 22)
* Assists: 8
* Turnovers: 8
* Steals: 6
* Blocks: 4
The #58 Northern Iowa Panthers defeat the #51 Valparaiso Crusaders 58-48 in conference action.