Hot shooting lifts Panthers at North Dakota

Northern Iowa burned up the nets in defeating North Dakota, 97-51, on Saturday at the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center in Grand Forks, N.D.

UNI (4-1) shot 61 percent for the game, including 63 percent from 3-point range, and all 10 players scored at least five points.

Three Panther players set career highs in scoring, led by senior guard Paul Jesperson with 18 points. Also setting new highs were sophomore forward Klint Carlson with 15 points and sophomore forward Bennett Koch with 12 points to go with eight rebounds.

Wes Washpun led the team with eight assists to go with 10 points.

Northern Iowa went on a 16-0 run near the end of the first half that ballooned the scored to 51-16. Jesperson had two 3-pointers and Matt Bohannon and Wyatt Lohaus had one each during the run.

UNI led at halftime, 54-20.

The 46-point win is the seventh-largest margin of victory in school history.

The win improved UNI Coach Ben Jacobson to 7-0 all-time against his alma mater. UND Coach Brian Jones is a graduate of Northern Iowa.

Northern Iowa returns to action at 7 p.m. Monday against North Texas (2-3). The Mean Green have lost three straight to Idaho, Samford and Troy, and embark on their first road trip of the season.