CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) — Montel James came off the Loyola of Chicago bench to score 14 points and grab 12 rebounds, sparking the Ramblers to their first conference win this season at Northern Iowa, a 51-41 comeback victory Saturday.
The win snaps the Panthers' four-game win streak and their five-game win streak in Cedar Falls.
Down 22-19 at intermission, the Ramblers (8-10, 1-5 Missouri Valley) opened the second half on a 9-2 run that vaulted them into the lead, 28-24. Northern Iowa managed to tie the game several times, but Ben Richardson hit back-to-back treys to push the Ramblers ahead, 44-38, then knocked down a jumper to spark a 7-1 run to close the game out.
Milton Doyle added 12 points and Richardson contributed 10.
Jeremy Morgan scored 15 points as Northern Iowa (10-9, 2-4) struggled from the floor, hitting just 13 of 48 shots, including 7 of 24 from beyond the three-point arc.