National Basketball Association
BOXSCORE | RECAP
Northern Iowa 63, Washington St. 59
When: 11:30 PM ET, Wednesday, December 23, 2015
Where: Stan Sheriff Center, Honolulu, Hawaii
Officials: # Rick Batsell, # J.B. DeRosa, # Duke Edsall
Attendance: 7365

Northern Iowa senior guard Paul Jesperson scored 18 points, helping the Panthers fend off Washington State 63-59 Wednesday in the Diamond Head Classic at the Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu.

In a tight, back-and-forth contest, Jesperson hit a pair of free throws to put the Panthers up 56-53 with three minutes to play and then connected on a straightaway 3-pointer that extended the lead to 60-55 with 1:30 left.

Forward Josh Hawkinson led the Cougars with 14 points and 12 rebounds, and center Ike Iroegbu added 12 points, including a layup that trimmed Northern Iowa's lead to 62-59 with 5.1 seconds to play.

However, guard Wes Washpun made a free throw that sealed the victory for the Panthers (8-4). Washpun finished with 16 points.

Guard Jeremy Morgan added 14 points for Northern Iowa. Morgan had nine in the first half, helping Northern Iowa grab a 30-29 lead at intermission.

The Cougars (7-4) committed 19 turnovers to just eight for the Panthers, and Washington State was outscored at the free throw line 19-4.

Northern Iowa owns upsets over then-No. 1 North Carolina and then-No. 5 Iowa State.
Top Game Performances
 
Washington St.   Northern Iowa
Josh Hawkinson 14 Scoring Paul Jesperson 18
Ike Iroegbu 3 Assists Wes Washpun 4
Josh Hawkinson 13 Rebounds Wes Washpun 5
Josh Hawkinson 2 Free Throws Made Paul Jesperson 6
Valentine Izundu 1 Steals Jeremy Morgan 4
Valentine Izundu 2 Blocks Wes Washpun 1
Team Stats Summary
 
Team Points FG% 3PM-3PA FTM-FTA Assists Rebounds Blocks Steals Turnovers
Washington St. 59 49.0 7-19 4-5 11 29 2 1 19
Northern Iowa 63 42.6 4-15 19-23 4 17 1 11 8