The UNI men’s basketball team, currently boasting an 8-2 overall record and set to launch into the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) schedule, will face the UIC Flames on Wednesday at 4 p.m. CT. The matchup takes place at Credit Union 1 Arena in Chicago, with fans able to catch the action on ESPN+ and the Panther Sports Radio Network (93.5 The Mix), featuring the commentary of J.W. Cox and Kevin Boyle.
The Panthers come into this game with a strong performance thus far, having won eight out of their first ten games this season. Historically, UNI leads the all-time series against UIC 15-12 and holds a significant advantage in league play with a 5-1 record, having won both encounters last season.
The Panthers hope to maintain their successful start after a solid victory against Oakland, where they prevailed 75-63. Leon Bond III was a standout player, earning MVC Player of the Week honors following a season-high 26 points, complemented by seven rebounds. Additionally, Tristan Smith achieved his first Division I double-double with 18 points and a season-high 11 rebounds. Support also came from Trey Campbell, who added 14 points, and Will Hornseth, who contributed nine points along with five boards.
Defensively, UNI has made an impressive mark, ranking third in NCAA Division I basketball by allowing an average of just 58 points per game. They are also among the top 20 schools nationally for field goal percentage defense at .374, and three-point defense at .273. The team excels in forcing turnovers, averaging 14.5 per game, and boasts an impressive assist-to-turnover ratio of 1.9, ranking fifth nationwide.
Individually, Campbell, who recently celebrated surpassing 1,000 career points, joins an elite group of ten players in Panther history with over 1,000 points, 400 rebounds, and 200 assists. Sophomore forward Will Hornseth aims to solidify his place in the record books as he currently leads the team in career shooting percentage with an impressive 64.9%.
UIC enters the contest seeking to bounce back after struggling in their previous four games, including a narrow 87-84 defeat to league leaders Belmont in their MVC opener. Under second-year head coach Rob Ehsan, UIC finished last season with a 17-14 record and a middle-of-the-pack MVC standing.
The Flames have demonstrated effectiveness at the free-throw line, leading the MVC in free throw percentage at .777 and compelling opponents into turnovers with an average of 14.9 takeaways per game. Ahmad Henderson II leads the team with 14.6 points per game, with Andy Johnson not far behind at 14.3 points. Mekhi Lowery’s rebounding prowess is evident with an average of six boards per game, while Abdul Momoh has contributed significantly with 15 total blocks this season.
As the season unfolds, UNI basketball fans can stay updated via social media on platforms such as Facebook, X, and Instagram, as well as on the official team website, UNIpanthers.com. This matchup against UIC presents another opportunity for the Panthers to continue their impressive performance and further their aspirations in the MVC this season.