For Immediate Release: November 30, 2000
Contact: Derek Smolik, UTPA Director of Athletic Media Relations

Northern Iowa Holds Off UT Pan American, Hands Broncs First Loss of Season in Men's Basketball

CEDAR FALLS, IOWA -- Northern Iowa outscored the University of Texas-Pan American 22-10 over the last 10:31 of the game and handed the Broncs their first loss of the season, 73-70, in men's basketball action Thursday night at the UNI-Dome.

UTPA came out of the locker room hot, outscoring the Panthers 10-3 early on in the second half to take a 60-51 lead at the 10:31 mark.  Brian Merriweather hit two three-pointers and one jumper in the run.  But the Broncs would make just four baskets the rest of the way.

Martin Coon got the comeback going with a trey at the 9:38 mark to cut the lead to four points.  Octav Morariu then tipped in a miss to cut the lead to just two points.  Aaron Middendorf hit a pair of free throws to give the Panthers their first lead of the second half.  The Broncs retook the lead on a pair of free throws by Kwasinda Curtis and a lay-up by Mire Chatman at 64-62.  Warren Booker's free throws at the 2:32 mark gave the Panthers the lead for good.  Chatman's leaning three-pointer at the buzzer bounced off the rim, ending UTPA's hopes.

Merriweather led the way for the Broncs with 16 points, but shot just 6-of-20 from the field, including 4-of-10 from three-point range.  Chatman came off the bench to have another strong game with 15 points and three rebounds.  John Braxton had 13 points and a team-high five rebounds.  Curtis had 11 points, five rebounds, three assists and two steals.  Middendorf led the way for UNI with 12 points and eight rebounds.

UNI shots a solid 54.3 percent from the field for the game, including a sizzling 71.4 percent in the first half.  UTPA shot a season-low 42.2 percent from the field.  UTPA took a season high 26 attempts from three-point range, making 10.  UNI shot 24 free throws, compared with just seven for the Broncs.

The Broncs (3-1) will return to action in two days when they face off against the Tigers of the University of Missouri on Saturday at 1 p.m.

UT Pan American vs Northern Iowa (11/30/00 at Cedar Falls, Iowa)



Official Basketball Box Score -- GAME TOTALS -- FINAL STATISTICS


Official Basketball Box Score -- GAME TOTALS -- FINAL STATISTICS
UT Pan American vs Northern Iowa
11/30/00 7:05 p.m. at Cedar Falls, Iowa (UNI-Dome)
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VISITORS: UT Pan American 3-1
                          TOT-FG  3-PT         REBOUNDS
## Player Name            FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF  TP  A TO BLK S MIN
11 John Braxton........ f  5-10   3-7    0-0    1  4  5   4  13  0  3  0  2  32
21 Kyle Sanders........ f  1-3    0-0    2-3    0  1  1   2   4  0  2  0  2  13
40 Marcus Quinn........ c  1-6    0-1    0-0    0  0  0   1   2  1  0  0  0  19
01 Kwasinda Curtis..... g  4-8    1-4    2-2    2  3  5   3  11  3  2  0  2  38
23 Brian Merriweather.. g  6-20   4-10   0-0    0  3  3   2  16  0  1  0  2  37
03 James Davis.........    0-0    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   0   0  0  0  0  1   1
04 Joey Tate...........    2-3    0-0    1-1    1  1  2   2   5  2  1  0  0   9
22 Terrell Hill........    1-3    0-0    0-0    2  3  5   3   2  0  0  0  0  14
32 Mire Chatman........    6-10   2-4    1-1    3  0  3   3  15  2  4  1  1  23
52 DeFrance Gurley.....    1-1    0-0    0-0    0  2  2   1   2  0  0  0  0  14
   TEAM................                         2  1  3
   Totals..............   27-64  10-26   6-7   11 18 29  21  70  8 13  1 10 200

TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 14-33 42.4%   2nd Half: 13-31 41.9%   Game: 42.2%  DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half:  8-16 50.0%   2nd Half:  2-10 20.0%   Game: 38.5%   REBS
F Throw % 1st Half:  3-4  75.0%   2nd Half:  3-3  100 %   Game: 85.7%   0,1

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HOME TEAM: Northern Iowa 1-2
                          TOT-FG  3-PT         REBOUNDS
## Player Name            FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF  TP  A TO BLK S MIN
03 AUSTIN,Trey......... f  5-7    0-0    0-0    2  2  4   2  10  0  0  0  1  19
33 MIDDENDORF,Aaron.... f  4-6    0-1    4-6    1  7  8   2  12  4  3  0  0  36
11 MORARIU,Octav....... c  5-6    0-0    0-3    4  5  9   2  10  2  2  3  2  36
02 CLARKE,Andre........ g  2-4    1-1    2-2    0  2  2   1   7  5  3  0  0  20
05 COON,Martin......... g  3-9    3-9    2-2    0  2  2   0  11  0  1  0  0  27
04 WARREN,Booker.......    0-4    0-1    5-8    0  1  1   1   5  0  2  0  1  13
10 WOODLEY,Andy........    1-2    0-1    2-2    0  2  2   3   4  1  3  0  1  19
21 FOSTER,Chris........    3-4    3-3    0-0    0  1  1   1   9  0  2  1  0  12
34 HILL,Corey..........    1-2    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   0   2  5  1  0  1  13
40 WILDE,Adam..........    1-2    0-0    1-1    0  0  0   0   3  0  0  0  0   5
   TEAM................                         1  4  5
   Totals..............   25-46   7-16  16-24   8 26 34  12  73 17 17  4  6 200

TOTAL FG% 1st Half: 15-21 71.4%   2nd Half: 10-25 40.0%   Game: 54.3%  DEADB
3-Pt. FG% 1st Half:  4-7  57.1%   2nd Half:  3-9  33.3%   Game: 43.8%   REBS
F Throw % 1st Half:  5-7  71.4%   2nd Half: 11-17 64.7%   Game: 66.7%   2,1

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Officials: Steve Olson, John Higgins, Paul Kaster
Technical fouls: UT Pan American-None. Northern Iowa-None.
Attendance: 1928
Score by Periods                1st  2nd   Total
UT Pan American...............   39   31  -   70
Northern Iowa.................   39   34  -   73

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