HONOLULU – UNI men’s basketball was edged out by two points for the second consecutive game at the Hawaiian Airlines Diamond Head Classic, 71-69.
Three Panthers were in double-digit scoring, and UNI out-rebounded Wyoming, 38-30. UNI slips to 4-7 overall, and Wyoming improves to 10-2.
UNI made an early stop, setting up Tywhon Pickford to give UNI the early lead from a three-point shot. It was a back-and-forth first half with nine lead changes. However, UNI kept the lead for 15 minutes, 54 seconds. Wyoming took a one-point halftime lead off a half-court shot as time expired.
The Panthers’ defense limited Wyoming to a field goal percentage of 37%. UNI out-rebounded Wyoming 19-13 and scored six points off the Cowboys’ nine turnovers in the first half.
Wyoming’s Xavier DuSell opened the second half with a three-pointer, the biggest lead of the game so far for the Cowboys of the day and extended it with a series of three-pointers. Wyoming led by as many as 13 points. With 3:42 left to play, UNI went on a scoring run whittling down the gap by two through a series of fast breaks and free throws.
Nate Heise led UNI in scoring with 19 points, and Austin Phyfe chipped in 18 points. Noah Carter had a second double-digit night after hitting his 500th career point yesterday. He had 14 points. Tytan Anderson and Heise led the Panthers in rebounding with nine and eight, respectively.
UNI will play Hawaii or South Florida on Christmas Day, Dec. 25.
