CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- Bennett Koch scored 19 points and Northern Iowa pulled away early in the second half to beat Drake 68-54 on Tuesday night.
Northern Iowa (10-9, 2-5 Missouri Valley Conference) has won two straight since snapping a seven-game skid, and has beaten Drake (11-9, 5-2) in 16 of the last 18 games.
The Bulldogs had their last lead, 38-37 with 15 minutes left before Northern Iowa used a 23-11 surge for a 60-49 lead with four minutes remaining. Back-to-back 3s from Spencer Haldeman and Tywhon Pickford made it a 17-point Panther advantage with 2:28 to go.