BUTLER 56, NORTHERN IOWA 54

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OFFICIAL BASKETBALL BOX SCORE -- G A M E   T O T A L S                          
Butler vs Northern Iowa                                                         
11-25-03 7:05 pm at UNI-Dome -- Cedar Falls, Iowa                               
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VISITORS: Butler 2-0                                                            
                          TOT-FG  3-PT         REBOUNDS                         
No.     N A M E           FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF  TP   A TO BLK S MIN
01 Lightfoot, Duane     f  6-12   0-1    2-2    2  5  7   3  14   0  0  0  1  33
22 Monserez, Mike       f  2-6    1-2    1-2    1  3  4   4   6   2  2  0  2  33
34 James, Jeff          c  0-2    0-0    0-0    0  1  1   2   0   0  1  0  1   8
03 Horan, Bruce         g  4-8    4-7    0-0    0  2  2   0  12   1  0  0  1  31
21 Sheets, Avery        g  2-8    1-4    0-0    0  1  1   4   5   2  0  0  1  34
10 Parker, James           2-7    1-4    0-0    0  0  0   1   5   0  0  0  0  20
24 Ligon, Brian            0-2    0-0    0-0    1  0  1   1   0   0  0  0  0   4
30 Gardner, Nick           0-0    0-0    0-0    0  2  2   1   0   0  0  0  0   9
33 Crone, Brandon          1-5    1-4    0-0    1  1  2   1   3   1  1  0  0  11
35 Smalligan, Jamie        3-6    3-6    2-2    0  0  0   1  11   0  0  0  0  17
TEAM ........................................   0  3  3                         
TOTALS                    20-56  11-28   5-6    5 18 23  18  56   6  4  0  6 200
                                                                                
TOT-FG 1stH:  9-27 33.3%  2ndH: 11-29 37.9%  OT:  0-0  00.0%  Game: 35.7% Deadbl
3pt-FG 1stH:  4-12 33.3%  2ndH:  7-16 43.8%  OT:  0-0  00.0%  Game: 39.3%  Rebs 
FThrow 1stH:  3-4  75.0%  2ndH:  2-2  100.%  OT:  0-0  00.0%  Game: 83.3%   0, 1
                                                                                
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HOME TEAM: Northern Iowa 1-1                                                    
                          TOT-FG  3-PT         REBOUNDS                         
No.     N A M E           FG-FGA FG-FGA FT-FTA OF DE TOT PF  TP   A TO BLK S MIN
05 Crawford, Erik       f  2-7    2-3    0-0    3  5  8   3   6   0  4  0  0  28
43 Schneiderman, Matt   f  3-7    2-4    4-4    1  5  6   2  12   0  0  1  0  33
42 Gruber, David        c  5-9    0-0    3-4    1  7  8   0  13   1  3  0  0  30
12 Jacobson, Ben        g  7-10   2-2    3-4    1 10 11   0  19   1  1  0  0  33
21 Foster, Chris        g  0-4    0-3    0-2    0  1  1   1   0   5  6  0  0  26
11 Little, John            2-2    0-0    0-0    0  0  0   0   4   0  0  0  0  19
22 Schmit, Pete            0-1    0-1    0-0    0  0  0   1   0   0  1  0  0   4
23 McKowen, Brooks         0-1    0-1    0-0    0  0  0   1   0   0  2  0  0  13
32 Stout, Grant            0-1    0-0    0-0    0  2  2   1   0   0  0  1  0  11
33 Godfread, Jon           0-0    0-0    0-0    0  1  1   0   0   0  0  0  0   3
TEAM ........................................   1  1  2                         
TOTALS                    19-42   6-14  10-14   7 32 39   9  54   7 17  2  0 200
                                                                                
TOT-FG 1stH:  9-20 45.0%  2ndH: 10-22 45.5%  OT:  0-0  00.0%  Game: 45.2% Deadbl
3pt-FG 1stH:  2-6  33.3%  2ndH:  4-8  50.0%  OT:  0-0  00.0%  Game: 42.9%  Rebs 
FThrow 1stH:  8-11 72.7%  2ndH:  2-3  66.7%  OT:  0-0  00.0%  Game: 71.4%   1   
                                                                                
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OFFICIALS:   Ron Zetcher, Frank Spencer and Tim Hutchinson                      
TECHNICAL FOULS:                                                                
Butler                        -  none                                           
Northern Iowa                 -  none                                           
ATTENDANCE:  3641                                                               
SCORE BY PERIODS:                  1st  2nd  OT1  OT2  OT3  OT4   TOTAL         
Butler                              25   31                          56         
Northern Iowa                       28   26                          54

DAVE'S POSTGAME ANALYSIS

Mike Monserez nailed a fade-away three-pointer at the buzzer to lift the Butler Bulldogs past Northern Iowa, 56-54. The first half wasn't pretty for Butler, as they shot only 33% and were outrebounded 20-11. But forcing seven Panther turnovers while committing just one themselves kept the Bulldogs within three at the half, 28-25. The offensive funk continued for Butler in the second frame, with UNI scoring seven of the first nine points in the half to take a 35-27 with 16:24 remaining. But that's when freshman Jamie Smalligan took over. The seven-footer drilled three straight three-point baskets, keying a 9-2 run that made it 37-36. UNI's Ben Jacobson went on a 5-0 run of his own, but the Bulldogs answered with a 6-0 spurt to tie the game at 42 with 8:41 to go. After a timeout, the Panthers scored five unanswered points to make it 47-42, but Avery Sheets scored five straight on a three-pointer and a lay-in to tie the game once again at 47-47 with 3:18 left. Monserez took a charge, but Sheets' runner in the lane bounced away. Jacobson and Horan traded three-pointers to make it 50-50 with 1:53 remaining. UNI's Chris Foster missed a three-pointer, but Duane Lightfoot was unable to corral the rebound and the Panthers retained possession. UNI worked the shot clock until Jacobson hit a 15-foot jumper to make it 52-50. Horan's three-point attempt at the other end bounced off, and the Bulldogs were forced to foul. The problem for Butler was that they only had four team fouls at that point (22.3 seconds left), and needed to commit three more fouls to send UNI to the free throw line. They managed to do so and keep too much time from running off the clock. Jacobson hit both free throws to give the Panthers a 54-50 lead with 18.7 seconds left. Sheets drove the lane and didn't have a shot, but managed to find Horan in the corner for another big three-pointer to pull the Bulldogs within one at 54-53 with 9.3 ticks left on the clock. After each team took a timeout, the Bulldogs fouled Jacobson again. The fates smiled on the Bulldogs, and the front end of his one-and-one bounced away. Freshman Brandon Crone pulled down the rebound and got the ball to Sheets. Sheets drove and found Monserez for the game winner, 56-54, the only lead the Bulldogs had in the second half

PLAYERS OF THE GAME: It was too hard to choose just one player for this honor, so I wussed out and chose three. Monserez for obvious reasons is deserving, especially when you factor in that he missed some time on the sideline with a split lip, the result of an unsuccessful attempt to take a charge in the first half. Mike finished with six points, four rebounds, and a pair of steals. Smalligan's three big bombs were huge. Had he not connected, the eight point deficit the Bulldogs faced could easily have climbed to double-digits, and I could very well be writing about a loss right now. Jamie finished with 11 points (his first as a Bulldog), and was 3-of-6 from downtown. Horan's pair of three-pointers over the final 2:15 were likewise important. If he keeps shooting the longball like he has been, I'm sure that not too many Butler fans will worry about when he'll hit his first official two-point basket in a Bulldog uniform. Bruce finished with 12 points on four three-pointers.

Lightfoot also had a nice game, finishing with 14 points and seven rebounds. Sheets and James Parker had five points each, and Crone added three. UNI was led by Jacobson's game-highs of 19 points and 11 rebounds.

Obviously the shooting (36%) and rebounding (39-23, UNI) could have been better, but the Bulldogs did what they needed to do to win. They played tough defense (17 Panther turnovers), took care of the ball (4 BU turnovers), hit big shots, and most importantly, never gave up. This is the first true test this team has faced on the young season, and they responded well on the road.

The Bulldogs get a chance to enjoy the Thanksgiving holiday before returning to the hardwood. Up next are the Michigan Wolverines. Game time is Sunday, November 30, at 7:00 p.m. EST at Conseco Fieldhouse. Hope to see you there.

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