CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (AP) Erik Crawford had 20 points and three other Panthers scored in double digits as they beat Wayne State 84-66 on Sunday.
Wayne State, of Nebraska, jumped out to an early 7-1 lead before Northern Iowa (1-0) went on a 9-2 run to take the lead. The Panthers couldn't pull away too far as the Wildcats kept it close for much of the first half.
Ben Jacobson, who finished with 12, sank a jumper with 35 seconds left in the half to give Northern Iowa a 39-30 lead going into the break.
The Panthers broke it open with a 10-0 lead midway through the second half and took their largest lead at 22 with just over 3 minutes to play when Atila Santos made a jump shot to make it 78-56.
Santos finished with 14 points and Grant Stout added 10 for Northern Iowa.
Wayne State (0-2) was led by Brett Watson who scored 15. Todd Klosterman had 12 for the Wildcats.
Northern Iowa next travels to Cincinnati on Nov. 24.
