Northern Iowa loses in Heartbreaker

After winning the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament, the Northern Iowa Panthers were rewarded with the 11 seed in the West Region.  They were paired up against the 6 seeded Texas Longhorns of the Big 12 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.  This was a higher seed for the Panthers than anyone predicted, but they were still a popular upset pick over the Longhorns.  They did not disappoint.
Texas got up early, but Northern Iowa took over and had a sizable lead for the rest of the half.  A Javan Felix three point shot with eight seconds left in the half made the halftime score 44-36.  UNI's biggest lead was sixteen at 33-17, but with 14:05 left in the game, Texas took the lead back and it was close the whole rest of the way.  With three seconds left, Texas tied it up at 72.  Then, Paul Jesperson took the in bounds pass, launched it from forty-two feet, and made it, giving the Panthers a 75-72 victory. 

But, after the best ending in the Tournament, it would all change in around 48 hours for the Panthers.  Next, they faced off against the third-seeded Texas A&M Aggies out of the SEC.  Texas A&M demolished 14 seeded Green Bay Phoenix.  The Panthers had control of the game in the first half, eventually extending the lead to a 32-22 halftime score.  The Panthers got out to their biggest lead of the game early in the half, going up 15 at 39-24.  Northern Iowa was up 69-57 with 44 seconds left in the game.  Many Aggie fans had already left and even more started to leave.  Panther fans were getting ready for the Sweet Sixteen in Anaheim against Buddy Hield and the Oklahoma Sooners.  But, one of the greatest collaspes in NCAA Basketball history was about to unfold in Oklahoma City.  By the time there was seventeen seconds left in the game, a Klint Carlson dunk extended the now slim lead to five.  Then, A&M got a drive, the bucket and one of the worst and-one calls on Paul Jesperson I have ever seen.  As the ball went through the hoop, Jamie Luckie blew the whistle.  As our friends from the ACC call it, the UNI Panthers got "Luckied".  The free throw cut it to two.  The next inbounds, Wes Washpun caught it in a corner, hopped up to try to bounce it off of an Aggie, but Danuel House just picked it up and got the easy lay-up.  If he would've stayed on the ground, it could've worked, but they head into overtime.  Washpun fouled out early, and after a clutch three by Wyatt Lohaus to give the Panthers a 82-79 lead with 29 seconds left, the Aggies ended up tying it up after a lay-up, Jeremy Morgan making one of two from the line, and an Alex Caruso jumper took it into a second overtime.  Jesperson fouled out with 2:36 left after A&M jumped out to an early lead at 85-84.  Robert Knar, who barely played all year had to come in, and it ended up being a 92-88.

For the seniors: Washpun, Jesperson, and Matt Bohannon, it was a tough way to end their careers.  Bohannon, the usual in-bounder, was hurt, and missed the last minute of the half with what we now know to be an ankle injury, was significant. 

But, this is March.  They were on top of the world Friday night, and had crying Jordan memes on them Sunday night after the biggest collapse in NCAA Tournament history.  They had their up-and-downs, as this was a team that was once 2-6 in MVC play.  It was amazing that they got to this point, but it was disappointing how it ended.

They have one of the best coaches in college basketball in Ben Jacobson, who took the blame for the loss, who has been offered high level jobs (Texas A&M had interest before hiring Billy Kennedy), and returing players such as Jeremy Morgan, who went for 36 points and 12 rebounds in the last game.  Lohaus returns and his brother Tanner joins the team next year.  They didn't get to play Oklahoma, but with the Wichita State Shockers and Evansville Purple Aces losing key players, Jake and the Giant Killers might get a chance to dance with the big boys again next year.  

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