The University of Northern Iowa men’s basketball team shot a cold 30.8% from the field but still managed to pull out a 53-51 win over Illinois State University Wednesday night at the McLeod Center. The Redbirds had a chance for a final, potentially game-winning shot but failed to make an attempt before time expired.

It was another close call for the Panthers, who entered the game coming off a similar one-point win over the Missouri State University Bears. The victory continued what has been a dramatic eight-game winning streak for the Panthers with four of UNI’s last seven games having been decided by three points or less.

“It feels like we’ve been in this position 30 million times,” said UNI senior guard Kwadzo Ahelegbe.

The Panthers experienced multiple scoring droughts during the contest, failing to convert a field goal for five minutes on three separate occasions. One of those stints occurred throughout the last five minutes of regulation. However, the Panthers converted five of six free throws within that span to escape the Redbirds’ late surge.

“We struggled shooting it a bit, and they played good defensively, but we just kind of grinded it out, played good defense, got some big offensive and defensive rebounds, and just kind of did the little things to pull this game out,” said junior guard Johnny Moran.

Sophomore Anthony James contributed to the Panthers’ scrappy victory with his first career double-double that featured some key rebounds near the game’s conclusion. James finished the game with a game-high 18 points and 10 rebounds. The six-foot guard said that he has never led a game in rebounds before Wednesday night.

“(I was) going hard to the offensive and defensive glass. I wasn’t really getting boxed out, so I just felt that I could find openings to get a rebound,” James said.

“(James) played with a high level of energy tonight, and he was extremely active. He’s done that a lot this year, but tonight it paid off with some important rebounds,” said UNI head coach Ben Jacobson.

The Panthers’ win paired with a Missouri State loss to the University of Evansville propelled UNI into a tie for second place in the Missouri Valley Conference. Since UNI began the conference season 1-3, the Panthers have yet to lose a game.

UNI will be on the road for their next two games and will not be surprised to have some more close games with Evansville and Drake University, who will be looking to avenge their January losses to the Panthers.

“Nothing is going to be easy in this league, and we just have to keep grinding it out,” Ahelegbe said.