Northern Iowa scores final 5 points to win at Missouri State, 55-54

Northern Iowa tips Missouri State 55-54

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Kerwin Dunham’s basket with 40 seconds left lifted Northern Iowa to a 55-54 win over Missouri State Saturday.

Northern Iowa (19-2, 10-1 Missouri Valley) trailed 54-50 with 1:38 left.

The conference-leading Panthers led by as many as seven with 10:57 left but Missouri State (15-7, 5-6), which was 11-1 at home going into Saturday’s game, rallied on back-to-back 3-pointers by Adam Leonard and tied the game at 50 on Leonard’s third 3 of the half with 4:20 left.

Baskets by Leonard and Will Creekmore gave Missouri State its 54-50 lead before Northern Iowa’s comeback, which started when Ali Farokhmanesh made a free throw with 1:23 left. Adam Koch, who scored 10 points, made a jumper with 1:17 to go.

Jordan Eglseder led Northern Iowa with 14 points. Leonard led Missouri State with 17.