Morgan, Koch help Northern Iowa hold off Bradley 64-61

Feb 16, 2017, 02:54 pm

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- Jeremy Morgan and Bennett Koch each scored 18 points and Northern Iowa held off fast-closing Bradley 64-61 on Wednesday night.

Northern Iowa led by 10 with five minutes left, but Bradley pulled within two after a dunk by Donte Thomas with 2:17 to go and despite Northern Iowa missing all three of its final shots, Koch sank 3 of 4 free throws to hold on for the win.

Jordan Ashton added 11 points for Northern Iowa (14-12, 9-6 Missouri Valley Conference) which avenged a January loss to Bradley, has won nine of its last 10 and is seeking to become the first MVC school since 1924-25 to start 0-5 in conference and finish above .500.

Bradley, which has lost three straight, trimmed its deficit to 61-59 on Thomas' dunk but committed turnovers on its next two possessions and the Braves managed only two Darrell Brown free throws in the last two-plus minutes. Bradley still had a chance, but a potential tying 3-pointer missed as time expired.

JoJo McGlaston led Bradley (9-19, 4-11) with 15 points and Nate Kennell added 13.