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, as a raucous crowd witnessed just the fourth top-10 program ever to play in Cedar Falls.
Facing a nine-point hole with 5:29 to go, UNI (8-4) turned to Bennett Koch and stayed locked on Xavier’s hip down the stretch. The Panthers had possession down three with under three minutes to play, but couldn’t convert.