DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Marc Sonnen and Anthony James scored 17 points each, and Northern Iowa was dangerous from 3-point range in a 71-64 victory against Drake on Saturday night.
The Panthers (16-11, 9-6 Missouri Valley) shot 13 of 26 (50 percent) from behind the arc en route to their fifth win in a row. Sonnen had five 3-pointers; James and Chip Rank three apiece.
Chris Hines had 18 points and Jordan Clarke 13 points and 11 rebounds for the Bulldogs (11-15, 5-10). Drake, which lost its fourth straight, shot 27 of 52 (51.9 percent) from the floor.
Rank, who had 11 points, hit the first of five consecutive Northern Iowa baskets from behind the arc to give the Panthers a 49-46 lead. Matt Bohannon, Rank again, James and Sonnen followed, and when that flurry was finished, Northern Iowa had a 61-50 cushion with 4:10 remaining. Drake got no closer than five points afterward, and that was in the final seconds.
Jake Koch had 11 points and three blocked shots for the Panthers.
