UNI Aims for First Road Test at North Dakota

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UNI (3-1) at North Dakota (2-3)
Sat., Nov. 28, 2015 • 2 p.m.
Grand Forks, N.D. • Betty Engelstad Sioux Center (3,064)

BROADCAST INFO
Television
Midco Sports Network | VIDEO LINK
   Play-by-Play: Dan Hammer
   Analyst: Greg Stemen

Radio
Panther Sports Network
Play-by-Play: Brad Wells
Analyst: Kevin Boyle
Stations - 1330-AM/107.3 FM
On the Web - www.1073theparty.com

OPENING TIP
• UNI will play its first road game of the season Saturday at 2 p.m. against the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, N.D.

• UNI head coach Ben Jacobson recorded his 200th career coaching victory Wednesday in an 83-63 triumph over Dubuque. Jacobson becomes only the ninth coach in Missouri Valley Conference history to reach 200 victories.

• Jacobson will take on his alma mater for the seventh time in his coaching career on Sunday. Jacobson is 6-0 vs. North Dakota.

• Senior guard Wes Washpun has been named the Missouri Valley Conference's men's basketball player of the week for his play in wins over Stephen F. Austin and No. 1 North Carolina.

• Washpun scored a season-high 22 points in UNI's 83-63 win over Dubuque on Wednesday. Washpun is averaging a team-best 19.0 points per game, is dishing out 6.0 assists per contest all while shooting 63.0 percent from the field.

• UNI senior guard Matt Bohannon has made at least one three-pointer in 14 consecutive games. He has drained a team-high 11 three-pointers this season.

• UNI has made at least one 3-pointer in 499 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. NORTH DAKOTA

SCOUTING NORTH DAKOTA
The University of North Dakota has posted a 2-3 this season. UND has scored wins over Minnesota-Morris (99-69) and Bowling Green (77-59).
   UND has dropped matchups at Wisconsin (78-64), at Florida Gulf Coast (73-60) and vs. Youngstown State (79-68).
   Quinton Hooker is leading UND in scoring (17.4 ppg) and rebounding (7.0 rpg).

BRIAN JONES - UNI PRODUCT
The University of North Dakota is led by 10th-year head coach Brian Jones. Jones was a four-year letterman as a guard/forward at UNI. He earned his bachelor's degree in communications and broadcasting from UNI in 1994.
   He has been the driving force behind the team's successful transition to the Division I level. The 2014-15 season was a rarity for the program in terms of not tasting postseason play. Over the course of the team's first six seasons at the DI level, Jones has led UND to pair of conference tournament titles and four postseason tournament berths.

UNI-NORTH DAKOTA SERIES
UNI and North Dakota will meet for the 85th time on Saturday.
   North Dakota leads the all-time series, 50-34.

UNI-UND IN JACOBSON ERA
Saturday will mark the seventh time that UNI head coach Ben Jacobson will take on his alma mater.
   Jacobson has posted a 6-0 mark in the previous six matchups.
   UNI is averaging 68.5 ppg and has won by an average of 17.3 ppg in its last six wins over UND.

200 WINS FOR JAKE
With the Panthers's 83-63 win over Dubuque, UNI head coach Ben Jacobson became only the ninth coach in the illustrious history of the Missouri Valley Conference to earn 200 victories.
   Jacobson has posted a career mark of 200-106 in his 10th season at the helm of the UNI men's basketball program.

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.   Barry Hinson (Missouri State/SIU)   213
7.   Maury John (Drake)   211
8.   Gregg Marshall (Wichita State)   206
9.   Ben Jacobson (UNI)   200
10.   Joe Stowell (Bradley)   197

UNI'S 3-POINT STREAK
UNI has made at least one 3-pointer in 499 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.

WASHPUN EARNS LUTE OLSON NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Senior guard Wes Washpun was named the Lute Olson National Player of the Week by CollegeInsider.com for his play in wins over Stephen F. Austin and North Carolina.

WASHPUN NAMED MVC PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Senior guard Wes Washpun has been recognized by the Missouri Valley Conference as its men's basketball player of the week for his play in a pair of Panther victories.
   Washpun averaged 17.5 points, 5.5 assists, 4.0 rebounds and shot 63.6 percent from the field in leading UNI to wins over Stephen F. Austin and No. 1-ranked North Carolina.
   Washpun began the week with a 14-point, five-rebound, three-assist effort in a 70-60 win over Stephen F. Austin. Washpun made 5-of-7 field goals against the Lumberjacks.
   Washpun dropped in 21 points and handed out eight assists in a 71-67 triumph over No. 1 North Carolina. Washpun drained a 57-foot shot at the first-half buzzer. He then added 12 points and five assists in the second half to lead UNI back from a 16-point deficit. Washpun made 9-of-15 shots from the field, grabbed three rebounds and notched two steals vs. the Tar Heels.
   It is the first MVC player of the week award in Washpun's collegiate career.

WASHPUN GOES BACK-TO-BACK WITH 20-POINT SCORING GAMES
Senior guard Wes Washpun has recorded back-to-back 20-point scoring games for the first time in his collegiate career.
   Washpun tallied 21 points in UNI's 71-67 win over No. 1 North Carolina. Washpun followed that up with 22 points in an 83-63 victory over Dubuque on Wednesday.
   It also marked the 27th time Washpun has reached double-figure scoring for the Panthers.

Active Career 20-Plus Point Scoring Games
Wes Washpun (3)
Matt Bohannon (1)

WES CAN DISH IT
Senior guard Wes Washpun has handed out a team-high 24 assists through UNI's first four games.
   Washpun is tied with Evansville's D.J. Balentine for the league lead in assists per game (6.0).

WES IS ACCURATE AS WELL
Washpun is also burying shots at just under 60 percent on the season (59.6 percent) on 47 shot attempts.

BO KEEPS KNOCKING 'EM IN
Senior guard Matt Bohannon has drained a team-best 11 three-pointers through the first four games..
   He has made at least one 3-pointer in 14 straight games - dating back to last season.

DOUBLE-DOUBLE FOR MORGAN
Junior guard Jeremy Morgan recorded his first career double-double with 15 points and 10 rebounds in UNI's 83-63 triumph over Dubuque.

MORGAN IS MAKING PLAYS
Junior guard Jeremy Morgan has shown he can do it all this season from scoring and rebounding to defending.
   Morgan is averaging 14.8 points per game to go along with 6.0 rebounds and 1.8 steals. Morgan has also been to the free throw line a team best 24 times with 19 makes.
   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.

80 OR MORE FOR THE PANTHERS
UNI improved to 35-5 when scoring 80 more more points under head coach Ben Jacobson with its 83-63 win over Dubuque.
   Four of the five losses came in overtime for the Panthers. The only time UNI has given up 80 points or more in regulation and lost came Feb. 1, 2014, when Indiana State scored an 87-81 win over UNI.

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 - 76 career starts
Jeremy Morgan - 49 career starts
Paul Jesperson - 37 career starts
Wes Washpun - 33 career starts
Bennett Koch - 4 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 185.

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.)   185
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.)   486
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

8TH CAREER TECHNICAL FOR JAKE
UNI head coach Ben Jacobson picked up his eighth technical foul of his coaching career in UNI's 71-67 victory over No. 1-ranked North Carolina (Nov. 21).
   UNI is 4-4 all-time in games in which Jacobson has received a technical foul.

UNI Results w/Jacobson Technical
L, 56-54 at Southern Ill. (Jan. 23, 2007)
W, 71-66 vs. Illinois State (Feb. 24, 2007)
L, 68-59 vs. Creighton (Jan. 15, 2008)
W, 69-67 vs. Illinois State (Feb. 24, 2009)
W, 65-53 vs. Evansville (Jan. 4, 2011)
L, 63-57 vs. Denver (Feb. 23, 2013)
L, 69-65 at Bradley (Jan. 22, 2014)
W, 71-67 vs. North Carolina (Nov. 21, 2015)

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).
   On Nov. 21, UNI toppled the No. 1-ranked North Carolina Tar Heels in the McLeod Center, 71-67.
   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 TAKES DOWN NO. 1
For the second time under head coach Ben Jacobson, the UNI Panthers have toppled the nation's No. 1-ranked team.
   UNI recorded a 71-67 win over No. 1-ranked North Carolina on Saturday in the McLeod Center.
   Jacobson also led UNI to a 69-67 win over No. 1-ranked Kansas in the 2010 NCAA Tournament.
   UNI has recorded 15 wins over ranked NCAA Division I opponents. UNI is 12-6 at home against ranked opponents. UNI has won four of its last five home games against ranked foes.

UNI TOPPLES NO. 1 N. CAROLINA
UNI's 71-67 win against No. 1 North Carolina marked the first time in the MVC's 109-year history that a non-conference No. 1 team lost to an MVC team in a true road game.
   The league now has eight wins against No. 1 teams (the AP poll began in 1949-50.). The other seven were on neutral courts; which includes three "No. 1 wins" in the past seven seasons. 2010 (UNI vs. Kansas), 2013 (Wichita State vs. Gonzaga) and Nov. 21, 2015 when UNI knocked off North Carolina.

PANTHERS VS. THE ACC
UNI earned the program's third win over an Atlantic Coast Conference school with its triumph over North Carolina and second in as many seasons vs. an ACC opponent.
   UNI knocked off Virginia Tech last season by the count 73-54 in the Cancun Challenge. UNI also defeated Boston College on Nov. 23, 2009, at the Paradise Jam, 83-69.
   UNI is now 3-3 all-time vs. the ACC (L, 63-60 vs. Clemson in 1991-92; L, 65-60 vs. Georgia Tech in 2004 NCAA Tournament; L, 80-66 vs. Maryland in 2013-14).

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

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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