Panthers, Hawks Ready For The Hy-Vee Classic

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UNI (5-4) vs. Iowa (5-5)
Sat., Dec. 17, 2016 • 3:30 p.m. (CT) | ESPN3 | AUDIO | STATS
Des Moines, Iowa • Wells Fargo Arena

BROADCAST INFORMATION
Television
ESPN3
Play-by-Play: Jordan Bernfield
Analyst: Mac McCausland

Radio
Panther Sports Network
Play-by-Play: Gary Rima
Analyst: Kevin Boyle
Flagship Station - NewsTalk 1540 KXEL
On the Web - www.UNIPanthers.com
TuneIn App

Stats
UNI.Statbroadcast.com

SERIES NOTES
All-Times Series: Iowa leads 34-10
• Last Meeting: UNI 56, Iowa 44 (Dec. 20, 2014)
• UNI and Iowa have split the last 14 meetings between the two programs. Ben Jacobson has four wins over Iowa - the most for a UNI head coach vs. Iowa.

UNI MEN'S BASKETBALL STORYLINES
• UNI (5-4 overall) will travel to Des Moines, Iowa, to take part in The Hy-Vee Classic held in Wells Fargo Arena. The Panthers will take on the Iowa Hawkeyes (5-5 overall) Saturday at 3:30 p.m. Drake and Iowa State will meet in the second game of the day at 6 p.m.

• UNI is looking to match the longest win streak in The Hy-Vee Classic's five-year existence. Iowa State set the mark with wins from 2012-2014.

• Senior guard Jeremy Morgan, the preseason MVC player of the year, scored a career-high 38 points – all in the second half – of UNI's 78-70 win over North Dakota. He was named the MVC Player of the Week.

• Morgan leads the Panthers in scoring (18.1), rebounding (7.3), assists (3.2), blocks (1.7), steals (3.0), three-pointers made (27) and free throws made (36). Morgan ranks No. 6 in the nation in steals per game (3.0).

• UNI head coach Ben Jacobson has recorded four victories over Iowa - the most of any Panther head coach against the Hawkeyes. Jacobson scored wins over Iowa in 2006, 2009, 2011 and 2014.

• UNI set its school record and the McLeod Center mark for 3-point field goals made with 20 in an 86-58 win over South Dakota State. The previous mark of 17 was set Jan. 29, 2014, in a 95-81 win over Evansville. UNI also tied the Missouri Valley Conference record for 3-pointers made.

UNI MEN'S BASKETBALL GAME NOTES VS. IOWA

UNI HEADS TO DES MOINES FOR THE HY-VEE CLASSIC
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UNI (5-4 overall) will travel to Des Moines, Iowa, to take part in The Hy-Vee Classic held in Wells Fargo Arena.
   The Panthers will take on the Iowa Hawkeyes (5-5 overall) Saturday at 3:30 p.m.
   Drake and Iowa State will meet in the second game of the day at 6 p.m.

BROADCAST INFORMATION
Saturday's game will be broadcast live on ESPN3.
   Jordan Bernfield (play-by-play) and Mac McCausland (analyst) will call the action courtside in Wells Fargo Arena.

IOWA HAWKEYES
The University of Iowa Hawkeyes will enter Saturday's game with an overall record of 5-5.
   Iowa has scored wins over Kennesaw State (91-74), Savannah State (116-84), UT Rio Grand Valley (95-67), Stetson (95-68) and No. 25 Iowa State (78-64).
   Iowa is led in scoring by Peter Jok (23.8 ppg), Tyler Cook (13.7 ppg) and Cordell Pemsl (10.6 ppg).
   Freshman Jordan Bohannon, younger brother of former UNI Panther Matt Bohannon, is averaging 8.4 points and ranks second on the squad with 23 3-pointers.

ALL-TIME SERIES
Iowa holds a 34-10 lead in the all-time series vs. UNI.
   However, the squads have split their last 14 meetings with UNI and Iowa each earning seven victories.

THE HY-VEE CLASSIC HISTORY
This year marks the fifth year of The Hy-Vee Classic. The event allows all four of the state's NCAA Division I men's basketball programs to play in the same venue on the same day.

PANTHERS LOOK FOR THIRD STRAIGHT WIN IN HY-VEE CLASSIC
UNI is looking to match the longest win streak in The Hy-Vee Classic this Saturday when the Panthers take on the Iowa Hawkeyes.
   UNI has scored victories over Iowa (W, 56-44 in 2014) and Iowa State (W, 81-79 in 2015).
   Iowa State won three straight games in The Hy-Vee Classic from 2012-2014 as they took down Drake twice (2012, 2014) and UNI (2013) before falling last season to the Panthers.

2012
Iowa 80, UNI 73
Iowa State 86, Drake 77

2013
Iowa State 91, UNI 82 (OT)
Iowa 83, Drake 66

2014
UNI 56, Iowa 44
Iowa State 83, Drake 54

2015
UNI 81, Iowa State 79
Iowa 70, Drake 64

The Hy-Vee Classic Records
Iowa   3-1
Iowa State   3-1
UNI   2-2
Drake   0-4

JAKE AGAINST THE HAWKS
UNI head coach Ben Jacobson has recorded four victories over Iowa - the most of any Panther head coach against the Hawkeyes.
   Jacobson scored wins over Iowa in 2006, 2009, 2011 and 2014.
   Greg McDermott tallied three victories over the Hawkeyes in 2001, 2003 and 2005.
   Eldon Miller notched two wins over Iowa in 1990 and 1997.
   UNI's only other head coach to defeat Iowa came when H.F. Pasini led the Panthers to a 21-15 win over Iowa in the 1914-15 season.

MORGAN EARNS SECOND MVC PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONOR
For the week, Jeremy Morgan averaged 27.5 points per game, 9.5 rebounds per game, 4.5 assists per game and shot 57.1 percent from the floor to earn MVC Player of the Week honors for the second time this season.
   Morgan poured in a career-high 38 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in leading UNI to a 78-70 win over North Dakota Saturday in the McLeod Center. Morgan scored all 38 of his points in the second half and led the Panthers to a comeback victory after trailing by four points at the break.
   Morgan posted 17 points, secured eight rebounds and handed out seven assists in an 86-58 victory over South Dakota State Wednesday at home. Morgan made 6-of-11 shots from the field, including 5-of-8 from three-point land.

MORGAN TAKES OVER
Senior guard Jeremy Morgan simply took over the second half Saturday in a 78-70 win over North Dakota.
   The Panthers trailed the Fighting Hawks at the break, 33-29, and Morgan was scoreless after going 0-of-5 from the field. From that point on, it became the Jeremy Morgan Show.
   Morgan made 10-of-12 field goals and 16-of-22 free throws in the final 20 minutes as he poured in a career-high 38 points.
   Morgan set the UNI scoring record in the McLeod Center taking over Jake Koch's mark of 34 points against Bradley on Jan. 9, 2011. He also broke Koch's UNI McLeod Center record of 15 made free throws from that same night vs. the Braves.
   Morgan set the McLeod Center record for free throw attempts (22) breaking the mark of 21 set by Evansville's D.J. Balentine on Jan. 29, 2014.

Active 20-Plus Point Scoring Games
Jeremy Morgan (7)
Klint Carlson (1)
Bennett Koch (1)
Hunter Rhodes (1)

MORGAN LEADS UNI
Senior Jeremy Morgan, the preseason MVC player of the year, leads the Panthers in scoring (18.1), rebounding (7.3), assists (3.2), blocks (1.7), steals (3.0), 3-pointers made (27) and free throws made (36).
   Morgan ranks No. 6 in the nation in steals per game.

THIRD DOUBLE-DOUBLE
Morgan recorded his third double-double of the season with 38 points and 11 rebounds vs. North Dakota.
   It is the the fourth double-double of his collegiate career. Morgan's only previous double-double before this season came in the 2016 NCAA Tournament vs. Texas A&M with 36 points and 12 rebounds.

UNI's Active Double-Double List
Jeremy Morgan (4)
Jordan Ashton (1)
Bennett Koch (1)

MORGAN HITS FOR 30-PLUS AGAIN
Senior Jeremy Morgan scored his second career 30-plus point scoring game with a career-high 38 points vs. North Dakota.
   Morgan tallied all 38 points against the Fighting Hawks in the second half as he was scoreless at the half having missed all five field goal attempts.
   Morgan is the first Panther since Robbie Sieverding to have multiple 30-plus point scoring games. Sieverding got his 30-point games in 1999 (31 vs. Drake) and 2001 (30 vs. Iowa).

UNI's 30-POINT GAMES SINCE 1980-81
40 - Cam Johnson (2/12/94 vs. Drake)
38 - Jeremy Morgan (12/10/16 vs. North Dakota)
38 - Jason Reese (3/1/90 at Missouri State)
38 - Randy Kraayenbrink (2/4/84 at Cleveland St.)
37 - Jason Daisy (1/22/97 vs. Illinois State)
37 - Jason Reese (12/30/88 at SMU)
36 - Jeremy Morgan (3/20/16 vs. Texas A&M)
36 - Jason Daisy (12/16/95 vs. Nebraska)
35 - Jason Daisy (12/2/95 vs. UCF)
35 - Jason Reese (12/17/88 vs. Youngstown St.)
35 - James Parker (12/28/87 vs. LSU)
34 - Jake Koch (1/9/11 vs. Bradley)
34 - Jason Daisy (2/15/97 vs. Southern Illinois)
33 - Randy Kraayenbrink (1/28/84 at Illinois-Chicago)
32 - Kwadzo Ahelegbe (11/23/09 vs. Boston College)
32 - Jason Daisy (2/18/95 vs. Loyola Chicago)
32 - Randy Kraayenbrink (12/30/85 at San Diego)
32 - Randy Kraayenbrink (11/30/85 vs. Prairie View A&M)
32 - Scott Stafford (1/21/85 vs. Valparaiso)
31 - Jordan Eglseder (12/13/08 vs. Wyoming)
31 - Ben Jacobson (2/9/05 vs. Creighton)
31 - Robbie Sieverding (2/22/99 vs. Drake)
31 - Tony Brus (2/17/99 vs. Illinois State)
31 - Jason Reese (1/7/89 at Stephen F. Austin)
31 - Jason Reese (2/14/89 vs. Missouri State)
31 - Jason Reese (2/25/89 vs. Illinois-Chicago)
31 - Maurice Newby (1/28/87 vs. Northern Illinois)
31 - Randy Kraayenbrink (1/18/86 at Cleveland St.)
31 - Randy Kraayenbrink (2/25/85 vs. Green Bay)
31 - Randy Kraayenbrink (1/14/84 vs. Illinois-Chicago)
31 - Randy Kraayenbrink (12/26/83 vs. Wayne St.)
30 - Adam Koch (1/25/09 vs. Missouri State)
30 - Robbie Sieverding (12/4/01 vs. Iowa)
30 - Randy Blocker (3/5/94 vs. Illinois State)
30 - Randy Blocker (2/7/94 vs. Bradley)
30 - Randy Blocker (1/15/94 vs. Wichita State)
30 - Randy Blocker (12/21/93 vs. Long Island)
30 - Troy Muilenberg (12/8/90 vs. Morningside)
30 - Jason Reese (12/11/89 at Sam Houston St.)
30 - Jason Reese (1/28/89 at Illinois-Chicago)
30 - Randy Kraayenbrink (3/6/86 vs. Cleveland St.)
30 - Randy Kraayenbrink (12/21/85 vs. Elmhurst)
30 - Randy Kraayenbrink (1/12/85 at Eastern Illinois)
30 - Ray Storck (2/20/82 vs. UNC-Wilmington)

MORGAN MOVING UP THE DEFENSIVE CHARTS
Senior guard Jeremy Morgan, who earned a spot on last year's MVC All-Defensive squad, is making his way up the UNI defensive charts in regard to blocked shots and steals.
   Morgan ranks No. 4 at UNI in steals (152) and No. 9 in blocked shots (81).

BLOCKED SHOTS - UNI (CAREER)
1.   Grant Stout (2004-0)   222
2.   Jake Koch (2009-13)   123
3.   Jordan Eglseder (2006-10)   120
4.   Sean Hawkins (1995-98)   118
5.   Eric Coleman (2004-08)   115
6.   Seth Tuttle (2011-15)   95
7.   Jason Sims (1993-96)   90
8.   Scott Stafford (1984-85)   85
9.   Jeremy Morgan (2013-pres.)   81
10.   Steve Phyfe (1988-90)   66

STEALS - UNI (CAREER)
1.   Brent Carmichael (1981-83)   180
2.   Nick Nurse (1986-89)   165
3.   Andy Woodley (1998-02)   159
4.   Jeremy Morgan (2013-pres.)   155
5.   Ben Jacobson (2002-06)   154
6.   Johnny Moran (2008-12)   152
7.   Dale Turner (1988-92)   143
8.   Robbie Williams (1982-86)   140
9.   Brian Carpenter (1992-96)   138
10.   Darian DeVries (1994-98)   131

RHODES BREAKS OUT
Junior guard Hunter Rhodes notched a career-high with 20 points off the bench in an 86-58 win over South Dakota State (12/7).
   Rhodes buried 6-of-9 three-
pointers against the Jackrabbits as UNI set a school record with 20 made three-pointers. Rhodes also handed out four assists vs. the Jacks.
   Rhodes added seven points in a career-high 26 minutes in UNI's 78-70 win over North Dakota (12/10). Rhodes made 2-of-5 shots from the field, including a three-pointer vs. the Fighting Hawks.
   Rhodes averaged 13.5 points per game and made 7-of-12 shots from 3-point land over the two games. Rhodes shot 57.1 percent from the field (8-of-14) in the two UNI wins.
   Rhodes became the first Panther to score 20 or more points off the bench since Nate Buss scored 23 against Bradley (March 6, 2015) at the 2015 MVC Tournament.

HALDEMAN PROVIDES THE 3
Redshirt freshman Spencer Haldeman ranks second on the squad in scoring (10.0) and in 3-pointers made (23).
   Haldeman has made at least two 3-pointers in five consecutive games.
   He has reached double-figure scoring in three of his last four games and is averaging 13.3 points per game over the past four contests.

TEDDY HITS THE BOARDS
Junior center Ted Friedman leads the Panthers with 13 offensive rebounds.
   Friedman has notched three offensive rebounds in each of the last three games – all games he has started.

PERFECT VS. HIS ALMA MATER
UNI head coach Ben Jacobson has secured a perfect 8-0 record against his alma mater – the University of North Dakota.
   Jacobson's eight victories over UND are the most he has tallied against any non-conference foe he has faced.

JAKE'S MOST NON-CONF WINS
8-0 vs. North Dakota
6-2 vs. Iowa State
4-1 vs. South Dakota State
4-2 vs. Milwaukee
4-4 vs. Iowa

AMONG THE NATION'S BEST
UNI ranks No. 7 in the nation in three-pointers made per game (10.6).
   The Panthers rank No. 10 in the nation in turnover margin (+5.7).

HOT/COLD PANTHERS
In UNI's five victories this season, the Panthers have shot 40.0 percent or better.
   In UNI's four losses, the Panthers have not shot better than 37.9 percent.

UNI'S 3-POINT STREAK
UNI has made at least one 3-pointer in 540 straight games – the longest active streak in the MVC.

COACH JAKE RANKS T-6TH IN ALL-TIME MVC VICTORIES
UNI head coach Ben Jacobson has tallied 225 career wins to rank T-No. 6 in MVC history.
   With his next victory, Jacobson would surpass Rich Herrin (Southern Illinois), who tallied 225 career coaching victories.

MVC Coaching Victories
1.    Henry Iba (Oklahoma State)   486
2.    Eddie Hickey (Creighton/St. Louis)   337
3.    Dana Altman (Creighton)   327
4.   Gregg Marshall (Wichita State)   239
5.   Barry Hinson (Missouri State/SIU)   236
6.   Rich Herrin (Southern Illinois)   225
   Ben Jacobson (UNI)   225
8.   Ralph Miller (Wichita State)   221
9.   Maury John (Drake)   211
10.   Joe Stowell (Bradley)   197

FOUR NON-CONFERENCE LOSSES
The last two times that UNI has dropped at least four non-conference games prior to league play starting - the Panthers have reached the NCAA Tournament.
UNI dropped five non-conference games in the 2015-16 season and four in the 2008-09 pre-conference play. In each instance, UNI won the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament and advanced to the NCAA Tournament.

AMONG THE ELITE
UNI is one of 13 teams to have won at least one game in the NCAA Tournament and accumulate 54 combined wins over the past two seasons.
   The elite list of squads include UNI, Duke, Gonzaga, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Oregon, Villanova, Wichita State, Wisconsin and Virginia.

EIGHT NCAA TRIPS FOR UNI
UNI made its eighth appearance in the NCAA Tournament last season. The Panthers are 5-8 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
2016 - W, 75-72 vs. #6 Texas
2016 - L, 92-88 (2OT) vs. #3 Texas A&M

7TH NCAA APPEARANCE SINCE 2004
The Panthers made their seventh NCAA appearance since the 2004 season. The seven appearances since 2004 is the most of any member of the MVC in that time frame.
   Wichita State has appeared in six NCAA Tournaments since 2004, to rank second in the MVC behind the Panthers.

MVC'S NCAA Appearances Since 2004
UNI (7) - 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2016
Wichita St. (6) - 2006, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
Southern Illinois (4) - 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
Creighton (4) - 2005, 2007, 2012, 2013
Indiana State (1) - 2011
Drake (1) - 2008
Bradley (1) - 2006

20-WIN SEASONS
UNI has had 12 20-win seasons in program history – 10 of those 20-win seasons have come since 2003-04.

BOOK IT IN THE UPPER HALF
UNI's streak of 13 straight upper-half finishes in the MVC is the league's longest active streak.

NINE OR MORE MVC WINS
The Panthers have won nine or more MVC games in each of the past 13 seasons – also the MVC's longest active streak.

TOP-FOUR FINISHES IN MVC
UNI has finished in the top four of the MVC standings in eight consecutive seasons.

IN THE UPPER HALF
UNI has finished in the upper half of the Missouri Valley Conference's final standings in 13 straight seasons. It is the longest active streak in the league.
   Prior to the 2003-04 season, when the current streak began, UNI had finished in the top half of the MVC on two occasions (1993-94 - 5th, 1996-97 - 4th) since joining the league in 1991-92.

13 STRAIGHT YEARS OF 9 OR MORE MVC WINS
UNI has won nine or more MVC games in 13 consecutive seasons - the longest active streak in the league.
   Wichita State has the second longest active streak at seven.

UNI in the MVC Since 2003-04
2003-04 - 12-6 (T-2nd)
2004-05 - 11-7 (T-3rd)
2005-06 - 11-7 (T-5th)
2006-07 - 9-9 (5th)
2007-08 - 9-9 (T-5th)
2008-09 - 14-4 (T-1st)
2009-10 - 15-3 (1st)
2010-11 - 10-8 (T-4th)
2011-12 - 9-9 (T-3rd)
2012-13 - 11-7 (3rd)
2013-14 - 10-8 (3rd)
2014-15 - 16-2 (2nd)
2015-16 - 11-7 (T-4th)

UNI MBB IN APR TOP-10 PERCENT
The UNI 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 four 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.

UNI SIGNS PHYFE TO NLI
UNI head men's basketball coach Ben Jacobson announced the signing of Austin Phyfe (Waverly, Iowa/Waverly-Shell Rock HS) to a National Letter-of-Intent to play for the Panthers beginning in 2017-18.
   Phyfe (6'9", 235 lbs., Forward) is the No. 2 recruit in the state of Iowa, according to IowaPreps.com. He earned second-team all-state honors from the Iowa Newspaper Association as a junior for head coach Nate Stegge. Phyfe notched third-team all-state accolades as a sophomore. Phyfe is a three-time all-Northeast Iowa Conference pick, including a pair of first-team honors the past two seasons. Phyfe averaged 14.5 points, grabbed 8.4 rebounds and shot 64 percent from the field in leading Waverly-Shell Rock to an 18-6 record in 2015-16. Phyfe scored 13.7 points and grabbed 7.9 rebounds as a sophomore in helping the GoHawks to a 22-3 record and a berth into the state tournament. As a freshman, he helped the GoHawks the state tournament and into the semifinals. Phyfe played AAU for the Iowa Barnstormers.
    He is the son of Steve and Lisa Phyfe. His father, Steve, played basketball for the Panthers from 1987-1990. His sister, Aftin, is a member of the UNI swimming and diving team.

UNI TO PLAY IN 2017 BATTLE 4 ATLANTIS
Celebrating its seventh year of elite collegiate tournament play, the 2017 Battle 4 Atlantis will include Villanova, Arizona, Purdue, North Carolina State, Tennessee, Southern Methodist, Western Kentucky and UNI.
   The 2017 early season tournament field boasts a combined 16 Final Four appearances and five National Championships between the field. The annual Battle 4 Atlantis once again falls during the Thanksgiving holiday, scheduled to take place November 22-24, 2017. The 12-game, three-day tournament is regarded as one of the most challenging early-season tournaments.
   It will mark UNI's second appearance in the Battle 4 Atlantis. UNI also took part in the tournament in the 2012 Battle 4 Atlantis as the Panthers played Louisville, Stanford and Memphis.

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), 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 6:30 p.m., live from The Other Place in Cedar Falls.

WEEKLY PRESS LUNCHEONS
UNI head coach Ben Jacobson or a member of his coaching staff will be available at the weekly Press Luncheons held each Monday beginning at noon in the back room of Pepper's Grill and Sports Pub located on 18th Street in Cedar Falls.

FOLLOW THE PANTHERS ON FACEBOOK, TWITTER & YOUTUBE
Fans of UNI Athletics on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram will have access to updates, score recaps and special announcements.

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

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

YOUTUBE
www.youtube.com/UNIAthletics

INSTAGRAM
www.instagram.com/UNIAthletics

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