UNI Ready for No. 1 North Carolina on Saturday

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#1 North Carolina (3-0) at UNI (1-1) | LIVE VIDEO | LIVE AUDIO | LIVE STATS
Sat., Nov. 21, 2015 • 1 p.m.
Cedar Falls, Iowa • McLeod Center (6,650)

BROADCAST INFO
Television
ESPN3
   Play-by-Play: Scott Warmann
   Analyst: Rich Zvosec

Panther Sports Network
   Play-by-Play: Eric Braley
   Analyst: Brad Wells
CFU Ch. 15/HD415; KCRG Ch. 9.2; WHO Ch. 13 D-2; KMEG Ch. 14 D-2; KGCW Ch. 26, CSN Chicago-PLUS

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

Live Stats
UNI.Statbroadcast.com

OPENING TIP
• UNI will meet the No. 1-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels on Saturday at 1 p.m. in the McLeod Center.

• UNI is coming off a 70-60 win over Stephen F. Austin.

• When the Tar Heels take the floor Saturday, it will mark the highest-ranked opponent to ever play a game in Cedar Falls.

• UNI is 11-6 all-time vs. ranked opponents at home, which includes a 3-2 mark in the McLeod Center.

• UNI senior guard Paul Jesperson played against the Tar Heels four times when he played for the Virginia Cavaliers.

• Junior guard Jeremy Morgan is UNI's top scorer through its first two games with a 17.0 points per game average.

• Senior guard Wes Washpun is averaging 16.5 points per game and 5.0 assists per game through UNI's first two contests.

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

• UNI has made at least one 3-pointer in 497 straight games – the longest active streak in the Missouri Valley Conference.

• UNI's 10th-year head coach Ben Jacobson is the school's all-time wins leader with 198 victories.

UNI MEN'S BASKETBALL NOTES VS. NORTH CAROLINA

HIGHEST RANKED OPPONENT EVER AT HOME
When the North Carolina Tar Heels take the floor Saturday, it will mark the highest-ranked opponent to ever play a game in Cedar Falls.
   The two previous times a top-10 team has played in Cedar Falls came Dec. 9, 1997, came when UNI defeated No. 10-ranked Iowa, 84-78, and on Feb. 8, 2014, when the No. 4-ranked Wichita State Shockers knocked off the Panthers, 82-73.

MARCUS PAIGE CONNECTIONS
North Carolina senior guard Marcus Paige played his prep basketball at Linn-Mar High School as a teammate of current UNI Panther Matt Bohannon.
   Paige's mother, Sherryl, an English teacher at Marion Independent Schools and former head girls basketball coach, earned her master's in English at UNI in 2008.

UNI VS. RANKED TEAMS
Since the 1979-80 season, UNI has compiled a mark of 14-34 vs. ranked opponents.
   UNI is 11-6 at home against ranked opponents. The Panthers have won three of their last four home games against ranked foes.
Ben Jacobson joined the UNI coaching staff in 2001-02, since then the Panthers have posted 11 victories over ranked opponents.
   UNI's only win over a No. 1-ranked team came March 20, 2010, when the Panthers recorded a 69-67 win over No. 1 Kansas in the 2010 NCAA Tournament.

UNI vs. Ranked Opponents (since 1979-80)
#17   Louisville   L, 66-53 (N) - 3/22/15
#11   Wichita State   L, 74-60 (A) - 2/28/15
#12   Wichita State   W, 70-54 (H) - 1/31/15
#4   Wichita State   L, 82-73 (H) - 2/8/14
#8   Wichita State   L, 67-53 (A) - 1/5/14
#17   Iowa State   L, 91-82 OT (N) - 12/7/13
#15   Wichita State   W, 57-52 (H) - 2/2/13
#12   Creighton   L, 79-68 (A) - 1/15/13
#21   UNLV   L, 73-59 (A) - 12/19/12
#19   Memphis   L, 52-47 (N) - 11/24/12
#2   Louisville   L, 51-46 (N) - 11/22/12
#13   Creighton   W, 65-62 (H) - 2/4/12
#23   Creighton   L, 63-60 (A) - 1/10/12
#10   Syracuse   L, 68-46 (A) - 11/12/10
#13   Michigan State   L, 59-52 (N) - 3/26/10
#1   Kansas   W, 69-67 (N) - 3/20/10
#15   Marquette   L, 73-43 (N) - 11/28/08
#14   Drake   L, 65-55 (H) - 2/16/08
#22   Drake   L, 58-54 (A) - 1/26/08
#11   Nevada   L, 79-64 (A) - 2/17/07
#16   Wichita State   W, 63-59 (A) - 12/30/06
#17   Washington   L, 70-61 (A) - 11/14/06
#23   Georgetown   L, 54-49 (N) - 3/17/06
#24   Bucknell   W, 65-61 (H) - 2/18/06
#12   Iowa   W, 67-63 (H) - 12/6/05
#20   Wisconsin   L, 57-52 (N) - 3/18/05
#17   Iowa   L, 76-73 (A) - 12/7/05
#14   Georgia Tech   L, 65-60 (N) - 3/19/04
#15   Southern Illinois   W, 68-52 (H) - 3/1/04
#20   Creighton   W, 82-73 (H) - 1/14/04
#24    Iowa   W, 77-66 (H) - 12/9/03
#13   Creighton   L, 84-75 (H) - 2/4/03
#11   Iowa   W, 78-76 (H) - 12/4/01
#17   Alabama   L, 64-56 (N) - 12/20/00
#10   Iowa   W, 84-78 (H) - 12/9/97
#12   Iowa   L, 78-73 (H) - 12/5/95
#11   Iowa State   L, 81-62 (H) - 1/25/95
#8   Iowa   L, 64-44 (A) - 12/8/92
#16   Iowa   L, 108-85 (H) - 12/19/91
#20   Minnesota   L, 81-78 (N) - 3/18/90
#11   Missouri   W, 74-71 (N) - 3/16/90
#20   Iowa   W, 77-74 (H) - 1/3/90
#3   Georgetown   L, 83-49 (N) - 12/29/89
#5   Iowa   L, 95-76 (A) - 12/6/88
#14   Missouri   L, 91-62 (A) - 1/12/83
#6   Iowa   L, 84-53 (A) - 12/21/81
#14   Iowa   L, 86-52 (A) - 12/30/80
#20   Iowa   L, 78-46 (A) - 12/6/79
NOTE: Associated Press poll used

UNI's Record vs. Ranked Opponents
Overall   Home   Away   Neutral
14-34   11-6   1-16   2-12

JESPERSON HAS EXPERIENCE AGAINST NORTH CAROLINA
Senior guard Paul Jesperson is the lone UNI Panther to have suited up and played against North Carolina prior to Saturday's game in the McLeod Center.
   Jesperson played against the Tar Heels four times when he played for the Virginia Cavaliers. Jesperson posted a 1-3 mark vs. UNC.

Jesperson vs. North Carolina
L, 93-81   9 pts, 2 rbs, 2 stl, 26 min.   (3/16/13)
W, 61-52   7 pts, 2 asts, 1 rb., 20 min.   (1/6/13)
L, 54-51   3 pts, 19 min.   (2/25/12)
L, 70-52   0 pts, 5 min.   (2/11/12)

MORGAN IS THE TOP SCORER
Junior guard Jeremy Morgan is UNI's top scorer through its first two games with a 17.0 points per game average.
   Morgan scored a career-high 20 points in UNI's season-opener vs. Colorado State (Nov. 14).
   Morgan then added 14 points in UNI's 70-60 win over Stephen F. Austin (Nov. 17).
   If Morgan can score in double figures against North Carolina, it would mark the first time in his Panther career that he has scored double figures in three consecutive games.
   Morgan has posted 18 career double-figure scoring games.

WASHPUN CAN SCORE IT, DISH IT
Senior guard Wes Washpun is averaging 16.5 points per game and 5.0 assists per game through UNI's first two contests.
   Washpun posted 19 points and had seven assists in UNI's season opener vs. Colorado State.
   Washpun scored 14 points with five rebounds and three assists.
   Heading into Saturday's game against No. 1-ranked North Carolina, Washpun has posted 25 career double-figure scoring contests.

PANTHERS HIT THE BOARDS
UNI has won the rebounding battle in each of its first two games this season.
   UNI had a slight 34-33 advantage over Colorado State (Nov. 14).
   UNI then recorded a 34-29 rebounding edge over Stephen F. Austin (Nov. 17).

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's first two career starts have come against Colorado State and Stephen F. Austin. Koch came off the bench in all 28 games he played as a redshirt freshman.

No. of Starts for UNI's Starters
Matt Bohannon - 74 career starts
Jeremy Morgan - 47 career starts
Paul Jesperson - 35 career starts
Wes Washpun - 31 career starts
Bennett Koch - 2 career start

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 181.

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.)   181
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 Morgan (2008-12)   601
2.   Ben Jaboson (2002-06)           519
3.   Marc Sonnen (2009-13)           480
4.   Matt Bohannon (2012-pres.)   473
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
200 WINS FOR JAKE
UNI head coach Ben Jacobson is closing in on the 200-win mark for his coaching career as he has tallied 198 wins going into Saturday's contest vs. North Carolina.
   Jacobson is looking to become only the ninth head coach to post 200 or more wins in the Missouri Valley Conference.

MVC Coaching Victories
1.    Henry Iba (Oklahoma State)   486
2.    Eddie Hickey (Creighton/St. Louis)   337
3.    Dana Altman (Creighton)   327
4.   Rich Herrin (Southern Illinois)   225
5.   Ralph Miller (Wichita State)   220
6.   Maury John (Drake)   211
7.   Barry Hinson (Missouri State/SIU)   209
8.   Gregg Marshall (Wichita State)   205
9.   Ben Jacobson (UNI)   198
10.   Joe Stowell (Bradley)   197

NON-CONFERENCE SLATE
UNI will face one of the nation's toughest non-conference schedules in 2015-16.
   UNI began the season with an 84-78 loss to Colorado State (Nov. 14). UNI then scored a 70-60 win over Stephen F. Austin in ESPN's 24 Hours of College Hoops Tip-Off Marathon (Nov. 17).
   This Saturday, UNI will take on No. 1-ranked North Carolina in the McLeod Center.
   The Panthers will also tangle with No. 7-ranked Iowa State (Dec. 19) in Des Moines.
   UNI will play road games at Richmond (Dec. 5), at George Mason (Dec. 8), at New Mexico (Dec. 12) and at Hawaii (Dec. 23).
   UNI could also take on No. 8 Oklahoma in its second game at the Diamond Head Classic in Honolulu.

UNI'S 3-POINT STREAK
UNI has made at least one 3-pointer in 497 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.

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 TOURNEY 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

WINNING WAYS AT MCLEOD
The McLeod Center will celebrate its 10th anniversary this season and the Panthers have made winning a priority in their home venue.
   UNI has posted an all-time mark of 113-29 (.798) in games played in the McLeod Center.
   UNI secured a school-record 16 home wins in the 2012-13 season. The previous mark of 15 home wins was set in the 1989-90 season.
   UNI has posted a trio of perfect home seasons since moving to NCAA Division I. UNI was a perfect 14-0 in both the 1983-84 and 2009-10 seasons and then UNI notched a 15-0 mark at home last season.
   UNI set its home-court win streak of 21 consecutive victories between the 2008-09 and 2010-11 seasons.
   The McLeod Center opened in November 2006.

11 HOME WINS IN 8 STRAIGHT YRS
UNI has won 11 or more home games in the McLeod Center in eight consecutive seasons.

UNI's Home Record Since 2007-08
Year   Record
2007-08   11-6
2008-09   11-4
2009-10   14-0
2010-11   13-5
2011-12   13-3
2012-13   16-4
2013-14   11-2
2014-15   15-0
2015-16   0-1

NON-CONFERENCE SUCCESS IN MCLEOD
The Panthers have posted a 51-10 (.836 winning percentage) mark against non-conference opponents all-time in the McLeod Center.

TOP-3 FINISH MVC FINISH FOR UNI
UNI earned a top-three finish in the MVC standings for the fourth consecutive season last year.
   UNI has finished in the top-three of the MVC standings in five of the last six seasons.

UNI's Top-3 MVC Finishes
T-2nd - 2003-04
T-3rd - 2004-05
T-1st - 2008-09
1st - 2009-10
T-3rd - 2011-12
3rd - 2012-13
3rd - 2013-14
2nd - 2014-15

IN THE UPPER HALF
UNI has finished in the upper half of the Missouri Valley Conference's final standings in 12 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.

12 STRAIGHT YEARS OF 9 OR MORE MVC WINS
UNI has won nine or more MVC games in 12 consecutive seasons - the longest active streak in the league.
   Wichita State has the second longest active streak at six.

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)

PANTHERS TABBED THIRD IN MVC PRESEASON POLL
UNI has been slotted to finish third in the preseason 2014-15 Missouri Valley Conference poll.

MVC Preseason Poll
School (First-Place Votes) Total
1.    Wichita State (42)       429
2.    Evansville       350
3.    UNI       336
4.    Illinois State       323
5.    Loyola (1)       267
6.    Indiana State       218
7.    Drake       165
8.    Missouri State       127
9.    Southern Illinois       101
10.    Bradley       49

WASHPUN EARNS H.M ALL-MVC PRESEASON HONORS
UNI senior guard Wes Washpun has been named as an honorable mention All-Missouri Valley Conference preseason honoree.
   Washpun, who was named the MVC's Sixth Man of the Year in 2014-15, averaged 7.6 points per game. He ranked second on the team in assists (91) and blocks (17), while ranking third in steals (34).

UNI OPENS UP WITH 70-50 EXHIBITION WIN OVER TRUMAN STATE
UNI scored a 70-50 exhibition victory over Truman State in the McLeod Center on Nov. 1
   Matt Bohannon scored a game-high 15 points and Wes Washpun added nine points and 10 assists in the 20-point victory. Bennett Koch scored eight points and collected seven rebounds. Ted Friedman came off the bench and scored 10 points on 5-of-6 shooting from the floor, while grabbing five rebounds.
   The Panthers had their largest lead of the day at 61-37 with 7:27 left in the game after Koch drained a pair of free throws.

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.

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.

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 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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UNI Ready for No. 1 North Carolina on Saturday

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Matt Bohannon

Ted Friedman

Paul Jesperson

Bennett Koch

Jeremy Morgan

Wes Washpun

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