Washpun, Morgan lead Northern Iowa over Evansville 57-54

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) Wes Washpun scored 14 points and made the go-ahead layup with 27 seconds left, and Northern Iowa held on to beat Evansville 57-54 on Wednesday night.

The Panthers built an 11-point lead and never trailed in the first half. The Purple Aces opened the second half on a 20-8 run and led 44-40 with 11 minutes left. Blake Simmons scored five points, and Egidijus Mockevicius and D.J. Balentine chipped in four apiece during the stretch.

There were four lead changes before Washpun gave the Panthers the lead for good. Jeremy Morgan blocked Jaylon Brown's potential game-tying jump shot with three seconds left. Morgan grabbed the rebound and then made two free throws to seal it.

Matt Bohannon added 13 points for Northern Iowa (13-11, 5-6 Missouri Valley Conference). Morgan finished with 12 points and two of the Panthers' five blocks.

Mockevicius led Evansville (18-6, 7-4) with 14 points.