UNI to Invade The Pit on Saturday

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UNI (6-2) at New Mexico (5-2)
Sat., Dec. 12, 2015 • 8 p.m. (CT)
Albuquerque, N.M. • The Pit (15,411)

BROADCAST INFO

Television
ESPN3
   Play-by-Play: Trey Bender
   Analyst: Blaine Fowler

Radio
Panther Sports Network
   Play-by-Play: Brad Wells
   Analyst: Kevin Boyle
Flagship - NewsTalk 1540-AM KXEL
On the Web - UNIPanthers.com, TuneIn

OPENING TIP
• UNI (6-2 overall) will play its third consecutive road contest when the Panthers travel to Albuquerque, N.M., to match up against the New Mexico Lobos (5-2 overall). UNI and New Mexico will tip at 8 p.m. on Saturday in The Pit.

• UNI and New Mexico will be meeting for the first time. Although both squads are in the Diamond Head Classic and could meet again later this month in Honolulu.

• UNI's junior and senior classes are scoring 76 percent (59.8 ppg) of the team's points.

• UNI committed a season-low four turnovers in its 73-65 win at George Mason.

• The Panthers canned 10 three-pointers against George Mason - marking the fifth time this season that UNI has made 10 or more three-pointers.

• UNI leads the Missouri Valley Conference in three-point field goal percentage (.426) and three-pointers made (78).

• UNI is scoring 79.9 points per game in 2015-16, which ranks as the second-highest single-season average in the last 46 years of Panther basketball.

• In UNI's six wins, the Panthers have limited the opposition to 67 points or less.

• UNI has made at least one 3-pointer in 503 straight games – the longest active streak in the Missouri Valley Conference.

• The NCAA recognizes teams in the top-10 percent of the Academic Progress Report. The UNI men's basketball program is the only Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball school to be listed in the top 10 percent in each of the last three years.

• UNI is one of 14 schools to have won 30 or more games twice in the last six seasons.

UNI MEN'S BASKETBALL NOTES VS. NEW MEXICO

A LONG DECEMBER
The Counting Crows had a hit song in 1996 by the title of A Long December and it will seem like that this month for the UNI men's basketball team.
   UNI will embark on its third road game of a seven-game road trip this Saturday in Albuquerque, N.M., against the New Mexico Lobos. The
   The Panthers and Lobos will tangle at 8 p.m. (CT) Saturday in The Pit.

SCOUTING NEW MEXICO
The New Mexico Lobos are 5-2 on the year, which includes a perfect 4-0 mark on their home floor.
   The Lobos have scored wins over Texas Southern (86-57), at New Mexico State (83-74), Loyola (75-51), Nicholls State (75-63) and Oral Roberts (91-75). New Mexico's two losses have come at USC (90-82) and at Purdue (70-58).
   Elijah Brown leads the Lobos in scoring at 17.9 ppg. Cullen Neal averaged 16.9 ppg. Tim Williams is scroing 16.1 ppg and leads the squad in rebounding at 8.9 rpg.
   New Mexico is led by second-year head coach Craig "Noodles" Neal. He led New Mexico to a 27-7 mark and a berth into the 2015 NCAA Tournament. Neal served as an assistant to Steve Alford at both New Mexico and the University of Iowa.

ALL-TIME SERIES
Saturday will mark the first meeting between UNI and New Mexico.
   Both squads are competing in the 2015 Diamond Head Classic in Honolulu Dec. 22-25.

CARING FOR THE BASKETBALL
UNI committed a season-low four turnovers in its 73-65 win at George Mason (Dec. 8).
   It was the fewest turnovers for UNI since last season's MVC Tournament title win over Illinois State when the Panthers made only three turnovers.

THREE-POINT PRODUCTION
UNI leads the Missouri Valley Conference in three-point field goal percentage (.429).
   UNI has made the most three-pointers in the MVC with 78 made triples through eight games.
   UNI has made at least seven three-pointers in every game this season.
   The Panthers canned 10 three-pointers against George Mason - marking the fifth time this season that UNI has made 10 or more three-pointers.

PLENTY OF PANTHER POINTS
UNI is scoring 79.0 points per game in 2015-16, which ranks as the second-highest single-season average in the last 46 years of Panther basketball.
   UNI averaged 85.1 points per game in the 1988-89 season.

UPPERCLASS SCORING
UNI's junior and senior classes are scoring 76 percent (59.8 ppg) of the teams points this season through the first eight games.
   Seniors Matt Bohannon (13.8 ppg), Paul Jesperson (12.4 ppg) and Wes Washpun (15.9 ppg) are accounting for 42.0 points per game.
   Juniors Jeremy Morgan (11.6 ppg) and Aarias Austin (6.1 ppg) are contributing 17.8 points per contest.

DON'T FORGET THE DEFENSE
It's not all about scoring this year, as UNI can also play some defense.
   UNI is allowing 67.8 points per game.
   In UNI's six wins, the Panthers have limited the opposition to 67 points or less.

UNI'S 3-POINT STREAK
UNI has made at least one 3-pointer in 503 straight games – the longest active streak in the Missouri Valley Conference.
   The last time UNI failed to make a 3-point basket came Feb. 3, 2000, vs. Southern Illinois in a 72-58 Panther victory in the UNI-Dome. UNI went 0-for-4 from 3-point land vs. the Salukis in that contest.

JESPERSON ENJOYS RETURN TRIP TO VIRGINIA
UNI senior Paul Jesperson started his collegiate basketball career at the University of Virginia before transferring to UNI. Jesperson returned to Virginia this past week with the Panthers playing at Richmond and at George Mason.
   Jesperson performed well in his return to Virginia by notching his first career double-double at George Mason with 19 points and 12 rebounds in UNI's 73-65 triumph.
   Both his 19 points and 12 rebound were career-highs for Jesperson.

PAULIE IS MONEY AT THE LINE
Paul Jesperson salted away the UNI victory at George Mason (12/8) by making all six free throws in the final 1:09 of the second half.
   He is 20-of-21 this season and has made 23 of his last 24 free throws dating back to 2014-15.
   Jesperson has made 39-of-43 career free throws at UNI for a 90.7 percent clip.

DISHING AT A RECORD PACE
Senior guard Wes Washpun is handing out assists at a record-pace this season at 6.1 assists per game, which is also tops in the Missouri Valley Conference and ranks No. 21 in the country.
   Jay Imhoff (1979-80) and Brooks McKowen (2006-07) hold the UNI single-season assist record at 5.8 assists per game.

BO KEEPS KNOCKING 'EM IN
Senior guard Matt Bohannon has made a team-best 24 three-pointers through the first eight games.
   He has made at least one 3-pointer in 18 straight games - dating back to last season.

MORGAN IS MAKING PLAYS
Junior guard Jeremy Morgan has shown he can do it all this season from scoring and rebounding to defending.
   Morgan ranks fourth in scoring (11.6 ppg), second in rebounding (5.5 rpg), second in free throws made (27) and first in steals (14).
   Morgan's steal of Joel Berry II's pass with :08 left and ensuing free throw helped clinch UNI's 71-67 victory over No. 1 North Carolina (Nov. 21).

FOR STARTERS
UNI's starting five consists of Matt Bohannon, Paul Jesperson, Bennett Koch, Jeremy Morgan and Wes Washpun.
   Bohannon and Morgan are the two returning starters from last year's 31-4 Panther squad.
   Jesperson started 33 career games at the University of Virginia before transferring to UNI. Prior to this season, Jesperson's last start came at Virginia on March 27, 2013 vs. Iowa in the NIT.
   Washpun started 29 games as a sophomore for the Panthers. His last start previous the pair this season came March 7, 2014, in the MVC Tournament vs. Southern Illinois.
   Koch came off the bench in all 28 games he played as a redshirt freshman.

No. of Starts for UNI's Starters
Matt Bohannon - 80 career starts
Jeremy Morgan - 53 career starts
Paul Jesperson - 41 career starts
Wes Washpun - 37 career starts
Bennett Koch - 8 career starts

BOHANNON MOVING UP UNI'S 3-POINT CHARTS
Senior guard Matt Bohannon ranks No. 4 on UNI's all-time 3-pointers made list with 199.
   He is four three-point makes away from tying Ben Jacobson's school-record 203 3-pointers set from 2002-2006.

UNI CAREER 3-POINTERS MADE
1.   Ben Jacobson (2002-06)           203
2.   Johnny Moran (2008-12)   201
   Marc Sonnen (2009-13)           201
4.   Matt Bohannon (2012-pres.)   199
5.   Nick Nurse (1985-89)           170
6.   Darian DeVries (1994-98)   166
7.   Robbie Sieverding (1998-02)   157
8.   Ali Farokhmanesh (2008-10)   152
9.   Maurice Newby (1987-91)   146
10.   Chris Foster (2000-05)           144

UNI CAREER 3-POINTERS ATTEMPTS
1.   Johnny Moran (2008-12)   601
2.   Ben Jacobson (2002-06)           519
3.   Matt Bohannon (2012-pres.)   510
4.   Marc Sonnen (2009-13)           480
5.   Chris Foster (2000-05)           422
6.   Robbie Sieverding (1998-02)   418
7.   Darian DeVries (1994-98)   407
8.   Ali Farokhmanesh (2008-10)   405
9.   Maurice Newby (1987-91)   391
10.   Brooks McKowen (2003-07)   376

TWO 30-WIN SEASONS IN THE LAST SIX YEARS
UNI is one of 14 schools to have won 30 or more games twice in the last six seasons, joining Duke (4 times), Kansas (4), Kentucky (3), Louisville (3), Syracuse (3), Wichita State (3), BYU (2), Gonzaga (2), Murray State (2), Ohio State (2), San Diego State (2), Virginia (2) and Wisconsin (2).

7TH OVERALL NCAA APPEARANCE FOR UNI PANTHERS
UNI made its seventh appearance in the NCAA Tournament last season. The Panthers are 4-7 all-time in the NCAA Tournament.

UNI's All-Time NCAA Tourney Results
1990 - W, 74-71 vs. #3 Missouri
1990 - L, 84-81 vs. #6 Minnesota
2004 - L, 65-60 vs. #3 Georgia Tech
2005 - L, 57-52 vs. #6 Wisconsin
2006 - L, 54-49 vs. #7 Georgetown
2009 - L, 61-56 vs. #5 Purdue
2010 - W, 69-66 vs. #8 UNLV
2010 - W, 69-67 vs. #1 Kansas
2010 - L, 59-52 vs. #5 Michigan State
2015 - W, 71-54 vs. #12 Wyoming
2015 - L, 66-53 vs. #4 Louisville
6TH NCAA TOURN. SINCE 2004
The Panthers made their sixth NCAA appearance since the 2004 season. The six appearances since 2004 is the most of any member of the MVC in that time frame.
   Wichita State has appeared in five NCAA Tournaments since 2004, to rank second in the MVC behind the Panthers.

MVC'S NCAA Appearances Since 2004
UNI (6) - 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2015
Wichita St. (5) - 2006, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
Southern Illinois (4) - 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
Creighton (4) - 2005, 2007, 2012, 2013
Indiana State (1) - 2011
Drake (1) - 2008
Bradley (1) - 2006

UNI MBB IN APR TOP-10 PERCENT
The University of Northern Iowa men's basketball, men's golf, women's golf, women's cross country and women's volleyball teams have been recognized by the NCAA for their latest multi-year Academic Progress Rate (APR) scores. These teams posted multi-year APR scores in the top 10 percent of all squads in their respective sports.
   The UNI men's basketball team has been recognized with a perfect APR score (1,000) in each of the last three seasons - the only MVC school to do that in each of the past three years.
   The APR provides a real-time look at a team's academic success each semester by tracking the academic progress of each student-athlete on scholarship. The APR accounts for eligibility, retention and graduation and provides a measure of each team's academic performance.

MBB INKS 3 IN EARLY SIGNING
UNI has announced the signing of Isaiah Brown, Tanner Lohaus, Juwan McCloud to National Letters-of-Intent to play for UNI Beginning in 2016-17.
   Brown (Flower Mound, Texas/Flower Mound HS) is a 6'5", 170-pound, guard from Flower Mound, Texas. Brown averaged 14 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.0 steals as a junior at Flower Mound High School for head coach Eric Littleton. Flower Mound finished third in their district in 2014-15. He earned second-team all-district honors as a junior. He is the No. 25-ranked recruit in the 2016 recruiting class in the state of Texas according to Texas Hoops. He played AUU ball for Marcus Smart YGC36 for head coach Vonzell Thomas. He is the son of Craig and Sophia Brown. He has two siblings, Landon (10) and Maliyah (2).
   Lohaus (North Liberty, Iowa/Iowa City West HS) is a 6'7" 205-pound forward. Lohaus helped Iowa City West to the 2014 state championship for head coach Steve Bergman and a 23-3 record. Lohaus guided Iowa City West to a third-place finish in the 2015 state tournament with a 25-1 record. As a junior, Lohaus averaged 11.1 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists. He earned second-team all-Mississippi Valley Conference honors as a junior. He is the son of Anne Lohaus and Brad Lohaus. He is the younger brother of UNI sophomore guard Wyatt Lohaus.
   Juwan McCloud (Germantown, Wis./Germantown HS) is a 5'11" 150-pound guard. McCloud was named the North Shore Conference player of the year after helping lead the Warhawks to their sixth consecutive league crown. McCloud led Germantown HS to the Division I state championship game as a junior. He averaged 16.7 points per game as Germantown posted a mark of 27-1 in 2014-15 for then head coach Steve Showalter. McCloud played AAU with the Wisconsin Swing coached by Justin Litscher. He is the son of Brian and Mellisa McCloud. He has an older brother, Jalen.

UNI TO PLAY IN THE 2016 PUERTO RICO TIP-OFF
UNI will take part in the 2016 Puerto Rico Tip-Off set for Nov. 17, 18 and 20, 2016.
   The tournament will be held in San Juan and will showcase Arizona State, Clemson, Davidson, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tulane, UNI and Xavier.

RADIO INFORMATION
This year's UNI men's basketball games can be heard on the UNI Sports Radio Network, with KXEL (1540 AM, Waterloo, Iowa) serving as flagship station. Affiliates include KBGG (1700 AM, Des Moines), KGYM (1600 AM, Cedar Rapids), KCHA (1580 AM, Charles City), KQCR (98.9 FM, Hampton), KILJ (105.5 FM, Mount Pleasant), KFXE (1160 AM, Decorah-Waukon) and KVFD (1400 AM, Fort Dodge).
   Long-time Panthers announcer Gary Rima handles play-by-play duties, while Kevin Boyle serves as analyst. Head coach Ben Jacobson's weekly radio call-in show will air on Thursdays, beginning in December at 6 p.m., live from The Other Place in Cedar Falls.

FOLLOW THE PANTHERS ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER & YOUTUBE
Fans of UNI Athletics on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube will have access to updates, score recaps and special announcements.
   UNI Athletics on Facebook will give fans the chance to connect with other Panther fans, as well as providing information on upcoming events. Followers on Twitter will be able to access news and scoring updates. Followers on YouTube will be able to access game highlights and press conference footage.

FACEBOOK
www.facebook.com/UNIAthletics
www.facebook.com/UNIMensBasketball

TWITTER
www.twitter.com/UNIAthletics
www.twittercom/UNIMBB

YOUTUBE
www.youtube.com/UNIAthletics

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