University of Northern Iowa Athletics
UNI, Wyoming to Meet in 2016 MWC/MVC Challenge
12/22/2015 12:05:00 PM | Men's Basketball
ST. LOUIS – The Missouri Valley Conference and the Mountain West Conference have announced next season's pairings for the Challenge Series between the two conferences. Nine of the 10 games will take place on the same date - Dec. 3, 2016. The agreement between the Mountain West and Missouri Valley conferences is in the second year of a four-year term.
The University of Northern Iowa will match up against the University of Wyoming Cowboys in Laramie, Wyo., on Dec. 3, 2016. UNI and Wyoming met in the second round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament with the Panthers scoring a 71-54 victory in Seattle, Wash. UNI and Wyoming have met five previous occasions - but this will mark only the Panthers's second trip to Laramie.
UNI-Wyoming Series
Dec. 14, 1990 - Wyoming 99, UNI 65 (Laramie, Wyo.)
Dec. 22, 1991 - Wyoming 66, UNI 50 (Cedar Falls, Iowa)
Dec. 13, 2008 - Wyoming 74, UNI 65 (Cheyenne, Wyo.)
Dec. 23, 2009 - UNI 72, Wyoming 54 (Cedar Falls, Iowa)
March 20, 2015 - UNI 71, Wyoming 54 (Seattle, Wash.)
This year, the Mountain West Conference won the series, 6-4, with the final games being played this past Sunday. The MW has an all-time series edge of 3-1-1 in five previous Challenge seasons, which includes an overall advantage of 28-17 in games played in association with the series.
The Challenge Series features head-to-head competition between 10 Mountain West and 10 Missouri Valley teams annually, with each conference hosting five games apiece each season.
Annual matchups for teams in the Challenge Series will be based upon factors including the previous year's achievements, records and RPI rankings, as well as projected rankings/strength of teams in the upcoming season, based on composite sources. Each season will be considered separately in terms of matchups, therefore, games from the previous year's Challenge Series may not be returned.
Television rights for each Challenge Series contest will be controlled by the home team's conference television agreement, which will dictate the distribution of the game and all related matters, including tip times.
About the Mountain West Conference
From its inception in 1999, the Mountain West has been committed to excellence in intercollegiate athletics, while promoting the academic missions of its member institutions. Progressive in its approach, the Mountain West continues to cultivate opportunities for student-athletes to compete at the highest level, while fostering academic achievement and sportsmanship. Now in its 16th year, the MW has been assertive in its involvement with the NCAA governance structure and has taken a leadership role in the overall administration of intercollegiate athletics. The Mountain West membership is comprised of 11 all-sport members: the United States Air Force Academy, Boise State University, Colorado State University, Fresno State, University of Nevada, University of New Mexico, San Diego State University, San José State University, UNLV, Utah State University and University of Wyoming. In addition, the University of Hawai'i and Colorado College participate in the Mountain West as single-sport members in football and women's soccer, respectively.
About the Missouri Valley Conference
The Missouri Valley Conference, the nation's second-oldest NCAA Division I conference, continues to be a leader in college athletics and is one of the nation's most progressive conferences, celebrating its 109th season in 2015-16. League members have worked together to focus on common goals and objectives, placing a high value on league harmony, while continuing to invest in athletic programs to compete at the highest level. League members for basketball include Bradley, Drake, Evansville, Illinois State, Indiana State, Loyola Chicago, Missouri State, Northern Iowa, Southern Illinois, and Wichita State.
2016 MWC/MVC Challenge Matchups
Date Matchup Location
Saturday, Dec. 3 San Diego State at Loyola Chicago, IL
Saturday, Dec. 3 Indiana State at Utah State Logan, UT
Saturday, Dec. 3 UNI at Wyoming Laramie, WY
Saturday, Dec. 3 Boise State at Evansville Evansville, IN
Saturday, Dec. 3 Missouri State at Air Force Colorado Springs, CO
Saturday, Dec. 3 Wichita State at Colorado State Fort Collins, CO
Saturday, Dec. 3 Nevada at Bradley Peoria, IL
Saturday, Dec. 3 New Mexico at Illinois State Normal, IL
Saturday, Dec. 3 Fresno State at Drake Des Moines, IA
Monday, Dec. 19 Southern Illinois at UNLV Las Vegas, NV
The University of Northern Iowa will match up against the University of Wyoming Cowboys in Laramie, Wyo., on Dec. 3, 2016. UNI and Wyoming met in the second round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament with the Panthers scoring a 71-54 victory in Seattle, Wash. UNI and Wyoming have met five previous occasions - but this will mark only the Panthers's second trip to Laramie.
UNI-Wyoming Series
Dec. 14, 1990 - Wyoming 99, UNI 65 (Laramie, Wyo.)
Dec. 22, 1991 - Wyoming 66, UNI 50 (Cedar Falls, Iowa)
Dec. 13, 2008 - Wyoming 74, UNI 65 (Cheyenne, Wyo.)
Dec. 23, 2009 - UNI 72, Wyoming 54 (Cedar Falls, Iowa)
March 20, 2015 - UNI 71, Wyoming 54 (Seattle, Wash.)
This year, the Mountain West Conference won the series, 6-4, with the final games being played this past Sunday. The MW has an all-time series edge of 3-1-1 in five previous Challenge seasons, which includes an overall advantage of 28-17 in games played in association with the series.
The Challenge Series features head-to-head competition between 10 Mountain West and 10 Missouri Valley teams annually, with each conference hosting five games apiece each season.
Annual matchups for teams in the Challenge Series will be based upon factors including the previous year's achievements, records and RPI rankings, as well as projected rankings/strength of teams in the upcoming season, based on composite sources. Each season will be considered separately in terms of matchups, therefore, games from the previous year's Challenge Series may not be returned.
Television rights for each Challenge Series contest will be controlled by the home team's conference television agreement, which will dictate the distribution of the game and all related matters, including tip times.
About the Mountain West Conference
From its inception in 1999, the Mountain West has been committed to excellence in intercollegiate athletics, while promoting the academic missions of its member institutions. Progressive in its approach, the Mountain West continues to cultivate opportunities for student-athletes to compete at the highest level, while fostering academic achievement and sportsmanship. Now in its 16th year, the MW has been assertive in its involvement with the NCAA governance structure and has taken a leadership role in the overall administration of intercollegiate athletics. The Mountain West membership is comprised of 11 all-sport members: the United States Air Force Academy, Boise State University, Colorado State University, Fresno State, University of Nevada, University of New Mexico, San Diego State University, San José State University, UNLV, Utah State University and University of Wyoming. In addition, the University of Hawai'i and Colorado College participate in the Mountain West as single-sport members in football and women's soccer, respectively.
About the Missouri Valley Conference
The Missouri Valley Conference, the nation's second-oldest NCAA Division I conference, continues to be a leader in college athletics and is one of the nation's most progressive conferences, celebrating its 109th season in 2015-16. League members have worked together to focus on common goals and objectives, placing a high value on league harmony, while continuing to invest in athletic programs to compete at the highest level. League members for basketball include Bradley, Drake, Evansville, Illinois State, Indiana State, Loyola Chicago, Missouri State, Northern Iowa, Southern Illinois, and Wichita State.
2016 MWC/MVC Challenge Matchups
Date Matchup Location
Saturday, Dec. 3 San Diego State at Loyola Chicago, IL
Saturday, Dec. 3 Indiana State at Utah State Logan, UT
Saturday, Dec. 3 UNI at Wyoming Laramie, WY
Saturday, Dec. 3 Boise State at Evansville Evansville, IN
Saturday, Dec. 3 Missouri State at Air Force Colorado Springs, CO
Saturday, Dec. 3 Wichita State at Colorado State Fort Collins, CO
Saturday, Dec. 3 Nevada at Bradley Peoria, IL
Saturday, Dec. 3 New Mexico at Illinois State Normal, IL
Saturday, Dec. 3 Fresno State at Drake Des Moines, IA
Monday, Dec. 19 Southern Illinois at UNLV Las Vegas, NV
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