VALPARAISO, Ind. (Interstat) — Owen Dease scored 20 points to lead Valparaiso to a 54-44 victory over Northern Iowa in a Missouri Valley Conference men’s basketball game Saturday at the Athletics-Recreation Center.

The Beacons (9-10) used a 22-point first half and a stronger second to pull away from the Panthers (12-7) before a crowd of 1,863. Northern Iowa led early but was hampered by cold shooting throughout. Valparaiso’s defense held firm, limiting the Panthers to 44 points, their lowest output of the season.

Ben Schwieger led Northern Iowa with 10 points. The win avenged a 10-point loss to the Panthers just three weeks prior.