Ali Farokhmanesh's Three-Pointer Gives Northern Iowa 69-66 Win Over UNLV

Oklahoma City, OK (Sports Network) - Ali Farokhmanesh hit a deep three from the left side with 4.9 seconds to play in regulation, and Northern Iowa came away with a 69-66 victory over UNLV in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Farokhmanesh finished 5-of-9 from beyond the arc for a game-high 17 points. Kwadzo Ahelegbe scored 13 points and dished out four assists for the Missouri Valley Conference champion Panthers (29-4), who are seeded ninth in the Midwest Region.

Adam Koch, the MVC Player of the Year, had 11 points, while Jordan Eglseder added nine and 10 rebounds in Northern Iowa's second tourney win in school history and first since 1990.

The Panthers will next face either Kansas or Lehigh in the second round on Saturday.

Matt Shaw scored 14 points, while Oscar Bellfield and Tre'Von Willis each logged 13 points and five assists for the eighth-seeded Rebels (25-9).