By TODD DVORAK, Associated Press Writer
December 6, 2005
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) -- Northern Iowa is at its best when it plays at home
against ranked Iowa teams.
Erik Crawford scored seven of his nine points in overtime, and Northern Iowa
knocked off No. 12 Iowa 67-63 on Tuesday night. It was the Panthers' third
straight upset of a ranked Hawkeyes team in the UNI-Dome.
The Panthers (5-1) also got 19 points from Eric Coleman and 16 from Ben
Jacobson, who helped send the game into overtime by hitting three 3-pointers
down the stretch in regulation.
"It ranks right up there with some of the best wins I've had here in four
years," Jacobson said. "We were scrapping the whole time and it may have been
ugly at times, but it was a huge win for us."
Iowa was ranked No. 11 when it lost here 78-76 in 2001, and was No. 24 when
it lost 77-66 two years ago.
This time, the Hawkeyes (7-2), led by Greg Brunner's 26 points, seemed on
the verge of ending their struggles in the UNI-Dome.
With a little more than three minutes left in regulation, Jeff Horner scored
in traffic to put Iowa up 52-47. But Jacobson hit three straight 3-pointers
during the next 90 seconds. Held in check most of the night, Jacobson got on
track when he hit his first at the 2:55 mark.
Jacobson hit a wide-open shot moments later when Horner slipped, putting the
Panthers up 53-52. Horner was injured on the play and spent the rest of the
game on the bench with an ice pack on his left knee.
Jacobson made his third 3 with 1:38 left in regulation to give the Panthers
a 56-54 lead. Both teams squandered their next possessions before Brunner was
fouled and sank both free throws with 41 seconds left.
The Panthers played for the last shot, but Jacobson's 3-pointer rimmed out,
sending the game to overtime.
With the Panthers trailing by two in overtime, Crawford got the ball on the
perimeter and made a 3 to put UNI up 62-60 with 50 seconds left.
Brunner followed with a 3 with 14 seconds to go to cut the margin to 65-63.
After Iowa fouled Crawford on the inbound pass, the senior made both free
throws with 12 seconds remaining to seal the win.
"We've been ranked three times coming in here," Iowa coach Steve Alford
said. "But it's a lot different than years ago. This is a very good basketball
team that's only going to get better."
The game was tight throughout, with 14 lead changes and seven ties.
UNI coach Greg McDermott said Jacobson and Crawford couldn't have picked a
better time to get out of their early season shooting funk.
"I've wondered a long time when Jacobson and Crawford were going to turn
their motor on," McDermott said. "It keeps us afloat. We only get so many big
games like this. When we get the opportunity to knock heads, it's important we
come out on top once in a while."
Updated on Tuesday, Dec 6, 2005 11:53 pm, EST
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