March 8, 2008
Final Stats
ST. LOUIS - Eric Coleman posted his fourth straight double-double with 22 points and 10 rebounds, and Adam Viet added a season-high 19 points, to lead sixth-seeded University of Northern Iowa to a 54-49 win over third-seeded Southern Illinois Friday night in the quarterfinals of the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference tournament.
Coleman was 4-for-8 from the field, and was 14-for-19 at the free throw line, posting career-bests in both free throws made and attempted. It was Coleman's fourth straight double-double and 14th of the season. Viet was 6-for-9 from three-point range on the night which was a season-best, and one short of his career-best for treys made in a game. Matt Shaw led Southern Illinois with 22 points.
The Panthers got off to a strong start, jumping to a 7-0 lead by the first media timeout. Adam Koch and Travis Brown each his jumpshots, and Viet made his first three, to get the Panthers going. Southern Illinois, which missed its first four shots - all from behind the arc - finally got on the board at the 15:16 mark on a trey from Shaw. SIU scored eight of the next 10 points to get within 10-8 with 10:23 left, but UNI extended its lead back to 17-12, with Viet getting free for his second three of the half during that run. Southern Illinois then scored eight unanswered points to go in front 20-17 with 1:36 left, taking its first lead of the game on a Shaw three-pointer. Viet answered on the next possession with a trey of his own to pull UNI even at 20-all, but SIU's Joshua Bone gave the Salukis a 22-20 lead heading into halftime by draining a 15 foot jumper from the right baseline.
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Shaw gave SIU a 25-20 lead right out of the locker room with a three-pointer, but UNI was able to go on a 7-2 run to tie the score at 27-all. After the teams traded three-pointers, the Panthers went on a 6-1 run to go in front, 36-31 with 12:58 on the clock. But this time it was SIU's turn to go on a run, as they scored 10 straight - culminated by a three-pointer from Shaw - to open a 41-36 lead with 8:21 left. UNI then got five straight points from Coleman to pull even at 41-all.
Southern then scored five straight of its own, moving in front 46-41 at the under four minute media timeout. Coleman then made four straight free throws to get UNI within 46-45, and after SIU's Randal Falker made one of two charity tosses to extend the Salukis' lead to 47-45, Viet made his sixth three-pointer of the game to give UNI the lead, 48-47, with 2:42 left. SIU re-took the lead on the next possession, but Coleman made two more foul shots to give UNI the lead for good, 50-49, with 1:55 on the clock. SIU missed its last four shots from the field, including Shaw's three-pointer from the left corner with five seconds left and the Salukis trailing 52-49. Coleman then nailed both free throws to seal the victory.
UNI shots 44 percent from the field and 50 percent (6-for-12) from three-point range, while Southern Illinois shot 39 percent from the floor and 25 percent (6-for-24) on threes. UNI was 18-for-26 at three free throw line, while Southern Illinois was 13-for-18. SIU held a slim 25-24 edge in rebounding.
UNI improves to 18-13 on the season, and advances to face second-seeded Illinois State (23-8) on Saturday at 4:00 pm at Scottrade Center.
