Kwadzo Ahelegbe scored 24 points to help Northern Iowa hold on for a 67-61 victory over Indiana in the semifinals of the Las Vegas Classic on Wednesday.

Johnny Moran added 15 points for the Panthers (8-3), who hit 9 of 23 shots from 3-point range and 16 of 19 free throws.

Christian Watford finished with 23 points and 10 rebounds while Derek Elston added 19 points to lead the Hoosiers (9-3).

With the game tied late in the first half, the Panthers (8-3) went on a 16-3 run to seize a 42-29 lead with 1:23 left before the intermission.

Indiana chipped away at the margin over the course of the second half, eventually tying the game at 59-59 on a layup by Watford with 2:35 remaining.

Northern Iowa regained the lead when Moran scored on the ensuing possession and Lucas O'Rear added a layup after a defensive stop, helping to ice the contest.