Hlas: Adam was adamant, so Panthers win again

CEDAR FALLS - For a while, it appeared Saturday's storyline here was Tony Freeman returning to Iowa to lead Southern Illinois to an upset over 24th-ranked Northern Iowa.

Freeman, the former Iowa Hawkeye, tried mightily with a team-high 17 points for the Salukis. But he became a sidebar in the final three minutes, when fellow senior Adam Koch took over and carried UNI to a 55-52 victory in McLeod Center.

It would be easy to say the 6-foot-8, 255-pound forward isn't flashy, just solid. Because he is as solid as a 6-8, 255-pounder.

But you score 11 straight points for your team in the final three minutes of a tight, tense game, you're flashy.

You bring your team from five points down with 3:30 left to four points up with :22 to go, you're eye-catching.

You swish three 3-pointers when you average less than one trey per game, and you amass 21 points in a game played in a defensive mosh pit for 40 minutes? Your presence was noticed, felt, and above all, desperately needed.

“Adam's been very consistent now for two years,” said UNI Coach Ben Jacobson. “Because of his consistency, he just doesn't stand out too much until a game like this.”

After an emotional win over Wichita State here Wednesday night extended the Panthers' Missouri Valley Conference lead to three games, it was time to get right back into the cage with another hungry opponent.

The Salukis, entering with an unimpressive 5-7 Valley mark that included five losses of five points or less, came to play. Their defense was the variety that had taken Chris Lowery-coached SIU teams to regular-season Valley titles in 2005 and 2007.

They certainly got leadership from Freeman, who hadn't played a college game in this state since Iowa's 2007-08 season ended.

Freeman's third 3-pointer of the second half gave SIU a lead with 7:27 left that held up until Koch had a sweet curl-in with 1:43 to go.

“I'd say we were in trouble today,” Koch said. “We do a pretty good job of staying levelheaded.”

It helps to have a power forward who can hurt you inside and outside, and who makes 83 percent of his free throws.

Koch was 8-of-8 from the line, with six of those in that final 3:11. Someone who gets and makes those shots down the stretch is known as a winner.

So no outsiders will apparently write the stories here this season, where UNI is unbeaten. At 21-2 overall and 12-1 in the Valley, the Panthers keep adding to their own success story.

Freeman, meanwhile, will have to help his team catch fire and win the Valley tournament in St. Louis this month or he'll again watch the NCAA tournament on television.

He forced six fouls on the Panthers in addition to his scoring. He's a good player, just like he was as an Iowa junior who averaged 13 points and 35 minutes per game. Had he stayed at Iowa, of course, his eligibility would have run out at the end of last season.

“I wish those guys the best,” Freeman said. “I made a business decision.

“I felt Coach (Todd) Lickliter wanted his own players, and that's fine. At the time, I had hard feelings. As I thought about it, I moved on.

“I'm happy with my teammates and with the staff. You can't ask for much more.”

Well, you could be greedy and ask for what UNI owns. Things like experience, depth, clutch play, and guys who know how to win.

“All their players know what they've got to do,” Freeman said.

Twenty-one wins, two losses. Rarefied air in the Cedar Valley.