Final Score: Indiana State 65, Northern Iowa 61

Cedar Falls, IA (Sports Network) - Justin Gant led the way with 18 points as the Indiana State Sycamores held off the Northern Iowa Panthers, 65-61, in Missouri Valley Conference action at the McLeod Center.

Jake Odum added 16 points and five steals for Indiana State (9-4, 2-0 MVC), which has won three in a row.

For UNI (7-7, 0-2), Seth Tuttle tallied game-highs in both points (24) and rebounds (10). Anthony James added 12 points, six boards, and four assists for the hosts, although he also committed six turnovers and shot just 6-of-16 from the floor.

Behind 50 percent shooting in the first half, Indiana State took a 37-32 lead into intermission. UNI kept the game close by making good on 46.2 percent of its shot attempts.

While the Panthers kept their deficit to single-digits throughout the second half, even getting to game to within one possession in the final minute, they could never tie or take the lead. Indiana State went just 4-of-8 from the foul line in the final 34 seconds, but it was enough to hang on.

The Sycamores held a significant advantage at the foul line, draining 22-of-32 from the stripe, while the Panthers were just 9-of-15.

01/02 23:10:07 ET