CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) — Seth Tuttle scored 18 points, on 6-of-10 shooting, to lead Northern Iowa to a 72-59 win over Illinois State on Sunday. Northern Iowa (14-14, 8-8 Missouri Valley Conference) opened with a 10-0 run to build a lead that was never challenged, taking a 40-24 advantage into the break and then protecting it in the second half.

Matt Bohannon contributed 14 points, Nate Buss added 13 and Jeremy Morgan 10 for the Panthers, who avenged a Feb. 8 loss to Illinois State and moved back into a third place tie with the win. Tuttle, who was 6 of 6 from the free throw line, also had nine rebounds. Illinois State (15-13, 8-8) outscored the Panthers 35-32 in the second half but couldn’t erase the 16-point halftime deficit.

Zach Lofton led the Redbirds with a career-high 24 points, while Reggie Lynch added 10 in the loss.