Mitchell’s career night not enough as UNI falls to VCU, 77-68

Freshman point guard Deon Mitchell scored a career-high 18 points while dishing out six assists Friday night, but it was not enough, as the University of Northern Iowa men's basketball team fell to the Virginia Commonwealth University Rams 77-68 in Richmond, Va.

UNI (17-12, 7-9 MVC) was 9-for-17 on 3-pointers, but VCU's full-court press defense forced the Panthers into a season-high 19 turnovers. UNI shot 55.6 percent from the floor for the game.

The Rams (23-6, 13-3 CAA) also shot the ball well, shooting 48.1 percent for the game and going 8-for-21 from beyond the 3-point arc. VCU was led in scoring by senior forward Bradford Burgess, who finished with 17 points. Juvonte Reddic, Rob Bradenberg and Troy Daniels all scored in double figures as well.

The game was back-and-forth throughout, with VCU taking their largest lead of the game in the final seconds. UNI held a 42-40 halftime lead and a 55-54 lead with 12:51 remaining in regulation. However, that would be the Panthers' final lead of the game.

VCU guard Darius Theus only made three shots the entire game, but all three came in the final five minutes of regulation. Theus accounted for all of VCU's points during a 7-2 run that extended the Rams' lead to 71-64 with just 1:40 remaining. Reddic got two dunks and a lay-up in the final minute of the game to seal the victory for VCU.

Junior guard Anthony James was the only other Panther to reach double digits; he finished the game with 10 points off the UNI bench.

Friday night's game was part of ESPN's annual BracketBusters series. With the loss, the Panthers are now 5-5 all-time in BracketBuster contests.

UNI returns to action Wednesday at 7 p.m. when they host the Bradley University Braves (7-22, 2-14 MVC) for Senior Night.

Johnny Moran is the Panthers' lone senior this season. Moran has played in 130 career games, just three shy of the UNI all-time record held by Kwadzo Ahelegbe. Moran also ranks No. 2 all-time at UNI with 189 career 3-pointers. Moran has scored 999 points in his four-year career at UNI and will look to become the 34th Panther to join the 1,000-point club.

For UNI to avoid playing on the first day of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament, they likely need to win their remaining two basketball games and need some help from other teams in the MVC.