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(AP) --  Jake Koch scored 13 points and Northern Iowa
rallied late to defeat Illinois State 46-44 Wednesday night.

The Panthers (12-6, 3-3 Missouri Valley) trailed 42-37 with 6:09
to play before scoring the next seven points. After the Redbirds
tied it at 44 on Jackie Carmichael's jumper with 3:08 to play,
Anthony James scored the winning points on a layup with 2:30
remaining

.
James scored six of his 10 points during Northern Iowa's
game-ending 9-2 run.

Blake Mishler had 10 points to lead the Illinois State (8-9,
0-6), which has lost six in a row. The Redbirds missed four shots
in the final two minutes, including Anthony Cousin's 3-pointer that
bounced off the rim with 2 seconds left.

Northern Iowa led by 10 points in the first half and 23-21 at
halftime.

(Copyright ©2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)