UNI bounces back with win over Washington State

Paul Jesperson scored 14 of his game-high 18 points in the second half and the Northern Iowa men's basketball team beat Washington State 63-59 Wednesday night at the Stan Sherriff Center in Honolulu.

Jesperson's three with 1:42 to go stretched the UNI lead to 60-55. Washington State (7-4) twice got within three in the final minute, but the Panthers were 3-for-4 at the line to close out the win in the consolation semifinals of the Diamond Head Classic.

UNI (8-4) will take on BYU in the fifth-place game at 2:30 p.m. central time Friday (ESPNU).

UNI struggled from the field for the second straight night, shooting 42.6 percent and just 26.7 percent from 3-point range. But the Panthers hit 19 of 23 free throws and only turned it over eight times after giving up 19 in a 68-52 loss to Hawaii in the quarterfinals.

'They really hung together,' Northern Iowa coach Ben Jacobson said on the Panther Sports Radio Network postgame show. 'It lacked some of the excitement (with it being a neutral site)...but our guys hung together, and that was obviously the key.'

UNI led 30-29 at the half. Six straight WSU points put the Cougars up 39-33 at the under-16 media timeout, but the Panthers soon responded with a 7-1 run — five points coming from Jesperson — in 2:18 to re-take the lead, 42-41.

Two Wes Washpun free throws made it 54-53 with 3:51 left and UNI never trailed again.

Washpun scored 16 points on 6-for-12 shooting, including a thunderous one-handed slam in the first half.

W. Washpun made Dunk. - ESPN Video

Washpun appeared to injure his back on a hard fall after a drive to the hoop later in the half and was seen wincing and stretching throughout the game, but still played 38 minutes in the victory.

Jeremy Morgan added 14 points, missing just one shot and adding four steals. Josh Hawkinson led the Cougars, who shot 49.6 percent and had 19 turnovers, with 14.

'It's just one of those (wins) that you like for your guys,' Jacobson said. 'I know it's not a Sweet 16 game, I get that. But in a weird way — different — but just as important for your program. I just think it's really good for this group but also good for our program.'

Important win to answer last night. Not always pretty, but they don't have to be. December 24, 2015

Important win to answer last night. Not always pretty, but they don't have to be. #UNIHoops

— Jeremiah Davis (@jeremiahdavis10)