TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- Indiana State and Northern Iowa both shot the ball over 57 percent over 40 minutes of action, but it was UNI that walked away from Hulman Center with an 88-82 victory Wednesday night.
 
Winners of three consecutive League games, the Panthers (17-10, 13-4 MVC) used their experience on the defensive end, forcing 15 Sycamore turnovers in which they converted into 18 points which proved to be the deciding factor. ISU was able to turn Northern Iowa over just six times for just four points.
 
It was a hot start from behind the arc for UNI as the Panthers hit five of their first six attempts from deep. After ISU took a 10-8 lead early, Northern Iowa put up eight quick points -- hitting two of their six first half triples to jump out to a 16-10 lead. Cameron Henry, who scored 13 of his game high 23 points in the first half willed ISU back to even shooting 6-of-8 from the field.
 
The game featured 18 lead changes and six ties as both teams reeled off small runs throughout the first half. Indiana State (11-18, 4-13 MVC) held the Panthers scoreless for the final two minutes of the first half while scoring using a quick 4-0 run to take a 41-40 lead into the locker room.  
 
It was much of the same in the second half as both teams struggled to get stops on the defensive end. AJ Green scored 17 of his 21 points in the second half as UNI put the guard into isolation situations and the First Team All-MVC player did not falter, scoring key baskets down the stretch over ISU defenders.
 
Trailing by seven with just over six minutes left to play, Micah Thomas scored six points to help fuel an ISU rally, making it just a three-point game at 76-73 at the 4:56 mark. Julian Larry hit his third 3-pointer of the game to pull ISU to within two points with under two minutes to play. Green answered on the other end with a bucket before Henry scored quickly in transition with 52 seconds on the clock.
 
Green once again made it a two-possession game with a turnaround jumper before Henry committed his sixth turnover on the other end when forced out of bounds on the baseline. UNI would finish the game at the free throw line where they shot 12-of-14 while ISU was held to 5-for-5.
 
Noah Carter added 19 for the Panthers on 9-for-15 shooting while Bowen Bom had 13 for the Panthers.
 
Kailex Stephens continued to score the ball well, putting up 14 points on 6-for-10 shooting. Henry added seven assists and four rebounds to his game high 23 points while Thomas and Larry each finished with 11 for ISU. Indiana State edged UNI on the boards, 25-24, with four Sycamores grabbing four or more rebounds led by Larry who had five from the point guard position.
 
UP NEXT
The Sycamores are set to close out the regular season on Saturday, February 26 at Illinois State. The game is scheduled to tipoff at 4 p.m. ET from Redbird Arena on ESPN3.
 
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