CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) — Seth Tuttle tied a career-high with 24 points, on 9-of-12 shooting, and Nate Buss scored a season-high 15 to lead Northern Iowa to a 55-39 win over Southern Illinois Wednesday night. Tuttle had eight rebounds and Buss made 6 of 9 field goals, including 3 of 4 from 3-point range. Southern Illinois made just 8 of 27 field goals in the first half and trailed 25-18 at the break.

Sean O’Brien opened the second half with a 3, pulling the Salukis within four, but an 19-6 run by Northern Iowa (13-2, 2-1 Missouri Valley) over the next eight-plus minutes made it 43-27 and Southern Illinois trailed by double digits the rest of the way in Cedar Falls. A jumper by Wes Washpun with 3:13 to play gave the Panthers their biggest lead of the game at 55-37.