UNI seniors get standing-O send-off

CEDAR FALLS — Wes Washpun couldn't make up his mind.

Following Northern Iowa's dismantling of Indiana State, 66-44, on Senior Night, the Cedar Rapids Washington grad and Panther senior was asked what he'll remember most about his final game at McLeod Center.

He couldn't decide between a standing ovation, the ceremony before the game in which Washpun, Matt Bohannon, Paul Jesperson and their parents embraced each other at center court or the dominant effort in the game.

'Can I pick them all?' Washpun asked, through laughter.

Sure thing. His 16 points, three rebounds and two assists were enough to earn him that much, at least. Not to mention everything else he's done in Cedar Falls since transferring to UNI from Tennessee.

'I think this day is a day I'll never forget,' Washpun said. 'Last home game at the McLeod Center, and it couldn't have gone any better.'

Fittingly, it was Washpun and his fellow senior Bohannon who led the Panthers (18-12, 10-7 Missouri Valley Conference) in a game that wasn't as close as the 22-point spread at the final buzzer.

So soon after the game, and with season left to play, it hasn't sunk in yet for them, they said, that they won't suit up again at McLeod Center. They'll prepare for Evansville and the MVC Tournament at McLeod, so there are plenty more shots to take surrounded by the purple seats.

'It might take a while for me. I'm the type of guy who reflects after the fact, and I'm not very good at in the moment thinking about what's really going on,' Bohannon said. 'It'll probably take a while. We'll be able to practice here and whatnot. Being able to play here in front of our fans is going to be something we'll truly miss.

'I know a lot of (fans) will be there (in St. Louis), but there's nothing quite like the McLeod Center. It's meant the world to play in front of these pretty special fans these last five years.'

With UNI in such firm control of the game, Coach Ben Jacobson was able to get his seniors a send-off from the home crowd. Washpun checked out with 5:03 to go; Jesperson and Bohannon with 2:31 to go. It wasn't premeditated by the 10th-year head coach — it just sort of worked out that way — but said 'I'm happy our guys were able to come off when they were and get a nice ovation.'

It was important because this group of seniors, he said, did a job this season many other classes either haven't had or haven't been able to do.

'It's obviously been a great run over the last month or so, and they have had most to do with it,' Jacobson said. 'Because of the way this has gone to this point, with the expectations we had coming in; with beating (North) Carolina and Iowa State; proving and showing ourselves we're good enough to do that, and then digging ourselves a big hole; their leadership to get us flipped around and playing the way we are not — being a part of that process, it's as good as any (class) we've had.'

Bohannon did get to say goodbye to his home court in an appropriate way, though. He didn't get a single 3-point attempt in the first half, but responded out of halftime with four straight — each without a moment's hesitation.

He had 14 points overall — 12 in the second half — and ended his home career by adding onto his 3-pointers-made record.

The Panthers have Evansville on Saturday, then onto the MVC Tournament in St. Louis, but even if those don't turn out as they want, Bohannon and UNI will always have this one.

'I didn't get too many looks in the first half, so I was obviously hunting my shot in the second half,' Bohannon said. 'I just wanted to go out and hit some shots; put a smile on my face and go out with a win with Wes and Paul. We had a pretty fun win tonight, and it's always fun to walk off that court knowing you're walking off the court with a win (where) you're never going to play again.'

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