CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - The Coe College men's basketball opened its season with an exhibition contest at the University of Northern Iowa on Monday evening, falling 70-60 to the Division I foe. The Panthers outscored the Kohawks 40-30 in the opening 20 minutes of play but a solid second half saw the Kohawks and Panthers each score 30 points. 11 different Kohawks scored on the evening as the team shot 44.6 percent from the floor and 29.6 percent from downtown. 
 
Leading the Kohawks was junior Jacob Robertson who posted 14 points, six rebounds, one steal and one assist while freshman Cael Schmitt added 11 points and four assists. Fellow freshman Max Lampe added seven points on 3-of-6 from the floor as the combo of Greg Hall and Sam Auen added six points each. 
 
UNI started the game hot, opening up a 12-3 lead in the first five minutes thanks to 3s from Bowen Born and Nate Heise. Coe responded well, scoring the next five points including a 3 from Lampe, getting the Kohawks within four points at the 13:27 mark. The Panthers hot shooting continued as they ripped off nine consecutive points featuring a 3 from Trae Berhow. Coe hung tough despite the hot shooting from UNI, scoring seven-straight points to cut its deficit to six points with just over minutes to play in the half.
 
Both teams settled into the contest, trading baskets for the next few minutes but back-to-back baskets for Coe including a 3 from Hall got the Kohawks within three points with 3:14 left in the frame. UNI was able to weather the storm prior to the first half's end, scoring nine of the final 11 points to hold a 40-30 lead after 20 minutes.
 
Again UNI stormed out of the break in the second half, pushing its lead to 17 within the first three minutes of the second and stretching it to 19 by the 13:46 mark. The Kohawks finally settled into the frame and began trading baskets with the Panthers but consecutive buckets from Robertson and Hall got them within nine points with just over five minutes remaining. UNI remained calm, despite the threat from Coe, scoring five of the next seven points to put the game out of reach with less than three minutes to play. 
 
Up next: Coe will continue its campaign on Wednesday, January 27 when it travels to the University of Dubuque for the A-R-C opener at 5:30 p.m.
 
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