Northern Iowa squeezes past Missouri State 61-60

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) — Chip Rank hit the game-winning layup with 2 seconds left as Northern Iowa edged Missouri State 61-60 on Friday night.

Anthony James had team-leading totals of 23 points and eight rebounds for the Panthers (13-5, 3-3 Missouri Valley).

Caleb Patterson scored 24 points and Kyle Weems hit double figures for the 17th consecutive game with 16 points for the Bears (11-7, 4-2).

On the final play, Rank took a pass from Jake Koch in the lane and went up to score through a maze of bodies.

Missouri State’s Michael Bizoukas threw up an 80-footer at the buzzer as his coach, Paul Lusk, screamed for a timeout. The officials huddled after the buzzer, but no timeout was granted.

Neither team ever led by more than six points. The score was tied nine times, and the lead changed hands 19 times. Neither team scored a single point off a fast break.