Shocker report: Northern Iowa 70, Wichita State 54
Saturday’s box score
No. 18 Northern Iowa 70,
No. 12 Wichita St. 54
WICHITA ST. | Min | FG-A | FT-A | OR-TR | A | PF | PT |
Wessel | 26 | 1-3 | 0-0 | 1-2 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
Carter | 17 | 4-11 | 0-0 | 1-3 | 0 | 4 | 8 |
VanVleet | 36 | 3-10 | 10-11 | 1-3 | 3 | 1 | 18 |
Baker | 35 | 4-12 | 2-2 | 0-3 | 0 | 2 | 12 |
Cotton | 34 | 2-5 | 2-2 | 4-8 | 3 | 4 | 6 |
Kelly | 10 | 0-0 | 1-2 | 0-2 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
Brown | 8 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Henderson Jr | 1 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Holland | 5 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Nurger | 5 | 0-1 | 0-0 | 1-1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Wamukota | 4 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Morris | 13 | 3-3 | 0-0 | 0-3 | 0 | 4 | 6 |
Glass | 6 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Totals | 200 | 17-48 | 15-17 | 8-26 | 6 | 22 | 54 |
Percentages: FG .354, FT .882. 3-Point Goals: 5-24, .208 (VanVleet 2-6, Baker 2-10, Wessel 1-3, Nurger 0-1, Carter 0-1, Holland 0-1, Brown 0-1, Cotton 0-1). Team Rebounds: 0. Blocked Shots: 4 (Morris 2, Glass, Brown). Turnovers: 11 (VanVleet 4, Baker 3, Cotton 2, Kelly 2). Steals: 5 (Baker 3, Morris, Cotton). Technical Fouls: None.
N. IOWA | Min | FG-A | FT-A | OR-TR | A | PF | PT |
Mitchell | 12 | 1-4 | 1-2 | 0-3 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
Bohannon | 14 | 1-2 | 0-0 | 0-1 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
Tuttle | 30 | 9-13 | 10-13 | 0-7 | 1 | 2 | 29 |
Singleton | 23 | 4-4 | 0-1 | 0-2 | 0 | 1 | 9 |
Morgan | 27 | 1-3 | 0-0 | 1-5 | 0 | 2 | 2 |
Jesperson | 25 | 1-2 | 0-0 | 0-1 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
Washpun | 31 | 5-10 | 6-7 | 0-3 | 3 | 3 | 16 |
Buss | 18 | 1-1 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
Koch | 4 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0-0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Lohaus | 16 | 1-1 | 0-0 | 0-2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Totals | 200 | 24-40 | 17-23 | 2-26 | 6 | 16 | 70 |
Percentages: FG .600, FT .739. 3-Point Goals: 5-7, .714 (Buss 1-1, Bohannon 1-1, Singleton 1-1, Tuttle 1-2, Jesperson 1-2). Team Rebounds: 2. Blocked Shots: 1 (Tuttle). Turnovers: 10 (Washpun 5, Mitchell, Lohaus, Tuttle, Jesperson, Singleton). Steals: 6 (Washpun 2, Jesperson, Morgan, Buss, Tuttle). Technical Fouls: None.
Wichita St. | 24 | 30 | — | 54 |
N. Iowa | 37 | 33 | — | 70 |
A—7,050. Officials—Paul Janssen, Bert Smith, Hal Lusk.
Turning the game over
Northern Iowa grabbed control for good in the first half when a series of Wichita State turnovers scrambled the Shockers.
WSU guard Fred VanVleet threw a soft lob pass stolen by Nate Buss and converted into a three-pointer by Matt Bohannon, one that beat the shot clock by a second. WSU survived another turnover by VanVleet, who lost the ball when he tried to dribble through two defenders.
The Shockers steadied themselves, but kept missing shots. Then a traveling violation by Tekele Cotton led to a three-point play by Wes Washpun and a 32-21 lead.
The Panthers extended their defensive pressure more than normal at times and used a taller lineup with players such as Buss and Paul Jesperson to bother WSU’s guards. VanVleet, who finished with four turnovers and three assists, often found himself trapped with the ball as the shot clock ticked away with few attractive options.
“They were helping off guys they didn’t feel could make shots,” VanVleet said. “Even guys who usually make weren’t making them. I didn’t think we were aggressive enough going downhill and trying to get to the foul line.”
Out of the cold
Northern Iowa students lined up four hours before the game, braving light rain and temperatures in the 30s, and filled the student section an hour before tip.
A few yelled at WSU’s Ron Baker as he warmed up on the other end of the court. They chanted “Gregg Marshall drinks wine coolers.” Signs read “Fred VanVleet believes in Santa Claus,” “Ron Baker likes Nickelback” and “Not even Sarah McLachlan can save the Shockers.” The Baker picture from his freshman season, featuring curly hair, made its usual appearance.
When the Shockers came out for the final warmups, students chanted “Not a state, not a state.”
“That place was rocking,” UNI senior Seth Tuttle said. “They get credit for the win, just as much as we do.”
Worth noting
The Shockers trailed by 13 at halftime, their biggest halftime deficit since an 18-point deficit at Missouri State last season … UNI held WSU to eight offensive rebounds and five second-chance points … The Panthers extended their series lead to 26-24 and snapped a two-game losing streak to WSU. The Shockers had won six of the previous seven meetings and three of four in the McLeod Center … WSU’s 54 points represents its lowest total since a 57-52 loss at Northern Iowa in 2013 … UNI’s attendance of 7,050 is the largest this season. Last season’s game drew 7,150.
Paul Suellentrop
This story was originally published January 31, 2015 at 7:16 PM with the headline "Shocker report: Northern Iowa 70, Wichita State 54."