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Northern Iowa upsets No. 5 Iowa State 81-79

Iowa State forward Abdel Nader (2) shoots over Northern Iowa guard Matt Bohannon during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 19, 2015, in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/Justin Hayworth) Iowa State forward Abdel Nader (2) shoots over Northern Iowa guard Matt Bohannon during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Saturday, Dec. 19, 2015, in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/Justin Hayworth)

By Associated Press December 19, 2015 1 min read

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) – Wes Washpun scored a career-high 28 points with 11 assists and Northern Iowa upset fifth-ranked Iowa State 81-79 Saturday night for its second win over a top-five opponent this season.

Paul Jesperson added a career-high 21 points on seven 3-pointers for the Panthers (7-3), who also stunned then-No. 1 North Carolina 71-67 at home last month.

Iowa State’s Georges Niang made it 80-79 on free throws with 20 seconds left, and the Cyclones (9-1) forced a subsequent turnover. Niang slipped, though, giving the Panthers the ball back. Washpun hit a free throw and Monte Morris missed a floater at the buzzer.

Niang scored 30 points for the Cyclones, who fell just shy of their second double-digit comeback in three games.