University of Northern Iowa Athletics
Hall of Fame

1989-90 Men's Basketball Team
- Induction:
- 2011
The 1989-90 UNI men’s basketball team recorded several milestones on its way to becoming one of the most successful teams in school history.
That season, the Panthers defeated 20th-ranked Iowa in front of 22,797 fans in the UNI-Dome for their second win ever in the all-time series with the Hawkeyes.
The 1989-90 squad also earned the school’s first-ever NCAA Division I tournament appearance with a dramatic run through the AMCU conference tournament that featured a three-overtime victory in the quarterfinals and a buzzer-beating semifinal win over Southwest Missouri State. In the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history, the 14th-seeded Panthers knocked off No. 3 seed Missouri, 74-71.
The team’s overall record of 23-9 stood as the best mark in the Division I era until the 2009-10 season.
1989-90 UNI Men’s Basketball Roster: Jonathan Cox, Steve Deering, Brad Hill, Cam Johnson, Brian Jones, Edward Madlock, Cedrick McCullough, Terry Merfeld, Troy Muilenburg, Maurice Newby, Chris Nuss, Nick Pace, Steve Phyfe, Kent Pollpeter, Jason Reese, Scott Socha and Dale Turner.Â
Head Coach: Eldon Miller
Assistant Coaches: Kevin Boyle, Kevin Lehman, Samuel SkarichÂ
Graduate Assistant Coach: Mark AckermanÂ
Student Assistant Coach: Nick Nurse
Managers: Chris Rowles, John McGovern, Henry Huddleson, Brenda Lewis, Matt Malm and Steve Nixon
Athletic Trainer: Terry Noonan
That season, the Panthers defeated 20th-ranked Iowa in front of 22,797 fans in the UNI-Dome for their second win ever in the all-time series with the Hawkeyes.
The 1989-90 squad also earned the school’s first-ever NCAA Division I tournament appearance with a dramatic run through the AMCU conference tournament that featured a three-overtime victory in the quarterfinals and a buzzer-beating semifinal win over Southwest Missouri State. In the NCAA Tournament for the first time in school history, the 14th-seeded Panthers knocked off No. 3 seed Missouri, 74-71.
The team’s overall record of 23-9 stood as the best mark in the Division I era until the 2009-10 season.
1989-90 UNI Men’s Basketball Roster: Jonathan Cox, Steve Deering, Brad Hill, Cam Johnson, Brian Jones, Edward Madlock, Cedrick McCullough, Terry Merfeld, Troy Muilenburg, Maurice Newby, Chris Nuss, Nick Pace, Steve Phyfe, Kent Pollpeter, Jason Reese, Scott Socha and Dale Turner.Â
Head Coach: Eldon Miller
Assistant Coaches: Kevin Boyle, Kevin Lehman, Samuel SkarichÂ
Graduate Assistant Coach: Mark AckermanÂ
Student Assistant Coach: Nick Nurse
Managers: Chris Rowles, John McGovern, Henry Huddleson, Brenda Lewis, Matt Malm and Steve Nixon
Athletic Trainer: Terry Noonan
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