CEDAR FALLS, Ia. — The noise was there, as was the energy. But Xavier was just too strong down the stretch.
In front of a near-sellout at the McLeod Center, the No. 8 Musketeers made enough shots late to hold off Northern Iowa 77-67 on Friday night in front of a raucous crowd that witnessed just the fourth top-10 program to play in Cedar Falls.
Facing a nine-point hole with 5:29 to go, UNI (8-4) leaned on Bennett Koch and stayed locked on Xavier’s hip all the way until the final buzzer. The Panthers had possession down three with under three minutes to play, but couldn’t convert.