Wichita, Kan.- Northern Iowa (12-7, 4-4) used a 12-0 run midway through the second half to pull away from Wichita State (8-11, 1-7) and take a 65-58 victory Wednesday night inside Charles Koch Arena.

The Shockers were led by a career-high 18 points in just 16 minutes of play from freshman J.T. Durley. P.J. Couisnard and Gal Mekel, who was in the starting lineup following a bout with the flu, also reached double-figures with 15 and 12 points, respectively.

The Panthers were led by Eric Coleman and Adam Viet, who each finished with 15 points, while Jordan Eglseder and Adam Koch each chipped in 12 points.

Both teams shot the ball well early. Mekel powered the WSU attack, scoring six of the Shockers' first 12 points. A three-pointer from Graham Hatch gave WSU a 17-13 lead with 11:08 to go in the half.

At the six minute mark the Shockers suffered another setback as junior forward Mantas Griskenas tore the ACL and MCL in his right knee and would not return.

Viet brought UNI back with hot shooting from behind the arc as he connected four times in a six minute span to give the Panthers a 25-23 lead that they would not relinquish and went into halftime with a 33-31 lead.

Couisnard came out of the break on a tear, scoring seven of his 15 points to give the Shockers a 43-41 lead with 14:08 to play in the game. The UNI big men controlled the game from there on out as Eglseder powered a 12-0 run to give the Panthers 53-43 lead with 7:51 remaining. The Shocker drought lasted seven minutes.

Couisnard hit a three-pointer and drove in for a layup to bring WSU within five, 63-58 with just over a minute to play, but it was too little, too late as UNI hit free-throws down the stretch and held on for a 65-58 win.

“During the first half we shot it well, then we kind of just got cold for whatever reason,” said Phil Thomasson. “They were probably closing out on us a little bit harder. We just have to find different ways to score. That's our problem right now, and getting the stops when we need the stop.”

For the game, WSU shot 44 percent, but just 36 percent in the second half. The Shockers out-rebounded yet another opponent by edging UNI on the glass 27-26.

The Shockers are back in action on Sat., Jan. 26 as they play host to Bradley. Tip-off is set for 7:05 p.m., and the game will be televised on Fox Sports Net.

-Wichita State-