CEDAR FALLS, IA - Jeremy Morgan led five Northern Iowa players in double-figures with 18 points and the Panthers (9-5, 1-0 MVC) opened the Missouri Valley Conference season with an 80-44 home win versus Bradley (2-12, 0-1 MVC) Wednesday night at McLeod Center.

Bradley started quickly with a 7-4 lead, but a 7-minute, 21-second scoring drought aided an 18-2 UNI run that put the Panthers in control. The Braves were 0-for-6 with six turnovers during the drought, during which time three starters - Donte Thomas, Luuk van Bree and Callum Barker - each collected two personal fouls.

While Bradley got its offense back on track to score 19 points over the final 7:56 of the half, the Braves could not slow down UNI as the Panthers shot 16-for-23 (.696) from the field in the opening frame to build a 46-28 halftime cushion.

The Panthers carried over the momentum to start the 2nd half, hitting the Braves with an 11-2 burst in the opening 5:29 of the half to push the lead to 57-30. As Bradley made only 6-of-21 (.286) field goal attempts in the second half, the Panthers steadily built on the lead.

The quartet of Morgan (6-for-8), Bennett Koch (15 pts, 5-7), Klint Carlson (12, 4-5) and Paul Jesperson (12, 5-7) combined for 57 points on 20-for-27 (.741) shooting to pace the UNI attack. Matt Bohannon added 11 points on 3-for-8 shooting. Scottie James led Bradley with nine points and four rebounds off the bench.

Bradley will return to action Sunday afternoon, hosting defending MVC champion Wichita State in a 1 p.m. tip at Carver Arena.