SIUC junior Monte Jenkins has made a habit of saving his best for the University of Northern Iowa this season.

The Rock Island native hit a jumper from the free-throw line over two Panther defenders late in the second half to cap a career-high 30-point performance and propel the Salukis to a 91-89 victory Saturday in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Jenkins, whose previous best was a 25-point effort against the Panthers earlier in the season, scored eight of the final 11 Saluki points.

Advertisement

He really rose to the occasion today when he made 13 out of 19 shots, SIUC coach Rich Herrin said. He exploded and really did it.

UNI had a couple opportunities to tie or win the game down the stretch. But Panther guard Tony Brus committed a costly turnover on the possession following the Jenkins basket.

Senior guard Shane Hawkins then went on to sink one of two free throws with 4.9 seconds remaining to produce the final margin of victory. The Panthers got one more shot attempt, but Brus missed a three-pointer from the baseline as time expired.

SIUC lifted its record to 11-12 overall and 6-7 in the Missouri Valley Conference as it completed a three-game road trip. UNI dropped to 9-12 and 3-10 in the Valley.

The victory marked the Salukis’ first season sweep of the Panthers and the team’s first win in Cedar Rapids in three years. SIUC shot 54 percent from the floor and won the rebounding battle 40-31.

After leading by as many as eight in the first half, SIUC took a one-point advantage at 49-48. UNI finished the half with an 11-4 run, hitting three three-pointers in the last two minutes.

SIUC was led by sophomore forward Derrick Tilmon, who scored 15 of his season-high 19 points in the first half. Tilmon, a 31-percent free throw shooter, went 7-for-10 from the line in the game.

Advertisement*

UNI carried the momentum into the second half. The Panthers began with a 9-0 run, holding SIUC scoreless for nearly three minutes. UNI owned a nine-point lead with a little more than eight minutes remaining.

When we started that second half, I was destroyed, Herrin said. I didn’t think we got out there and got with it for the first four or five minutes.

But Hawkins provided a spark for the Saluki offense. With senior forward Rashad Tucker struggling, Hawkins buried two consecutive three-pointers to cut the lead to 77-74 at the 7:30 mark. Hawkins finished the game with five three-point field goals.

Despite Tucker’s 2-for-12 shooting performance, Herrin said Tucker was able to help the team other areas. Tucker led the team with 11 rebounds and made a key steal down the stretch, as he played the entire second half.

Tucker did not have a real good basketball game, Herrin said. He wasn’t letting it affect his play when he wasn’t getting anything to go down. That’s the mark of a man that has made a lot strides in the right direction.

The Salukis return home to face last-place Drake University at 7:05 p.m. Wednesday.