University of Northern Iowa Athletics
UNI Continues Virginia Road Trip at George Mason
12/6/2015 10:18:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Complete Release (PDF)
UNI (5-2) at George Mason (4-5)
Tues., Dec. 8, 2015 • 6 p.m. (CT)
Fairfax, Va. • EagleBank Arena (9,253)
BROADCAST INFO
Television
American Sports Network
Play-by-Play: Tim Neverett
Analyst: John Griffin
CFU Ch. 106, Mediacom Ch. 103, KFXA Ch. 28.2, Comcast SportsNet Chicago-PLUS
Radio
Panther Sports Network
Play-by-Play: Brad Wells
Analyst: Kevin Boyle
Flagship - NewsTalk 1540-AM KXEL
On the Web - UNIPanthers.com, TuneIn
OPENING TIP
• UNI (5-2 overall) will remain in the state of Virginia to take on the George Mason Patriots (4-5 overall) in Fairfax. The Panthers and Patriots will tip off in EagleBank Arena on Tuesday at 6 p.m. (CT).
• UNI and George Mason will be meeting for the fifth time having split the previous four meetings.
• UNI is 1-1 at EagleBank Arena having scored an 82-77 overtime win in the 2012-13 season. The Panthers dropped a 76-70 decision at GMU in the 2013-14 season.
• Last season, UNI posted a 71-65 overtime win over GMU in the McLeod Center.
• UNI leads the Missouri Valley Conference in three-point field goal percentage (.436).
• UNI has made the most three-pointers in the MVC with 68 made triples through seven games.
• UNI ranks No. 12 in the nation in field goal shooting (51.6 percent).
• UNI is scoring 79.9 points per game in 2015-16, which ranks as the second-highest single-season average in the last 46 years of Panther basketball. UNI averaged 85.1 points per game in the 1988-89 season.
• Wes Washpun leads the MVC in assists per game (6.4). He has 45 assists in UNI's first seven games.
• UNI has made at least one 3-pointer in 502 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. GEORGE MASON
PANTHERS REMAIN IN VIRGINIA FOR ROAD SWING
UNI (5-2 overall) will remain in the state of Virginia to take on the George Mason Patriots (4-5 overall) in Fairfax. The Panthers and Patriots will tip off in EagleBank Arena on Tuesday at 6 p.m. (CT).
SUNDAY IN D.C.
UNI enjoyed a tour of Washington D.C. on Sunday and was greeted at the nation's Capitol by United States Senator Charles Grassley, R-Iowa.
SCOUTING GEORGE MASON
The George Mason Patriots are off to a 4-5 start. The Patriots are 2-1 at home in EagleBank Arena.
GMU's leading scorer is Jaire Grayer, son of former Iowa State and NBA player Jeff Grayer. Grayer averages 12.1 points per game for the Patriots.
GMU is under the direction of first-year head coach Dave Paulsen. Paulsen coached the seven previous seasons at Bucknell in the Patriot League.
ALL-TIME SERIES
UNI and George Mason have met four times with all four matchups coming since the 2010-11 season.
George Mason posted a 77-71 victory over UNI in a BracketBuster game in the McLeod Center on Feb. 19, 2011.
UNI snapped GMU's 14-game home-court win streak on Dec. 8, 2012, when the Panthers tallied an 82-77 overtime win in Fairfax, Va.
GMU posted a 76-70 win over UNI last season on Nov. 16, 2013, at the Patriot Center.
UNI recorded a 71-65 overtime win vs. George Mason on Dec. 6, 2014, in the McLeod Center.
Tuesday's matchup is the third game of a four-game agreement between the two schools.
THREE-POINT PRODUCTION
UNI leads the Missouri Valley Conference in three-point field goal percentage (.436).
UNI has made the most three-pointers in the MVC with 68 made triples through seven games.
UNI has made at least seven three-pointers in every game this season.
NO. 12 IN FG PERCENTAGE
UNI ranks No. 12 in the nation in field goal shooting (51.6 percent).
PLENTY OF PANTHER POINTS
UNI is scoring 79.9 points per game in 2015-16, which ranks as the second-highest single-season average in the last 46 years of Panther basketball.
UNI averaged 85.1 points per game in the 1988-89 season.
DON'T FORGET THE DEFENSE
It's not all about scoring this year, as UNI can also play some defense.
UNI is allowing 68.1 points per game.
In UNI's five wins, the Panthers have limited the opposition to 67 points or less.
UNI'S 3-POINT STREAK
UNI has made at least one 3-pointer in 502 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.
SPIDERS SNAP UNI'S 5-GAME WIN STREAK
The Richmond Spiders snapped UNI's five-game winning streak on Saturday at the Robins Center, 82-67.
The Spiders drained 13 three-pointers and shot 53.6 percent from the field.
UNI was led in scoring by Matt Bohannon with 14 points. Bohannon and Paul Jesperson each drained three 3-pointers against the Spiders on Saturday.
DISHING AT A RECORD PACE
Senior guard Wes Washpun is handing out assists at a record-pace this season at 6.4 assists per game, which is also tops in the Missouri Valley Conference and ranks No. 21 in the country.
Jay Imhoff (1979-80) and Brooks McKowen (2006-07) hold the UNI single-season assist average record at 5.8 assists per game.
BO KEEPS KNOCKING 'EM IN
Senior guard Matt Bohannon has 21 three-pointers through the first seven games.
He has made at least one 3-pointer in 17 straight games - dating back to last season.
MORGAN IS MAKING PLAYS
Junior guard Jeremy Morgan has shown he can do it all this season from scoring and rebounding to defending.
Morgan leads the team in field goal percentage (.643), free throws made (25), rebounds (43), blocks (5) and steals (14). He ranks third on the team in scoring at 12.6 points per game.
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 (Nov. 21).
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 - 79 career starts
Jeremy Morgan - 52 career starts
Paul Jesperson - 40 career starts
Wes Washpun - 36 career starts
Bennett Koch - 7 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 196.
He is seven three-point makes away from tying Ben Jacobson's school-record 203 3-pointers set from 2002-2006.
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.) 196
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.) 503
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
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
UNI TO PLAY IN THE 2016 PUERTO RICO TIP-OFF
UNI will take part in the 2016 Puerto Rico Tip-Off set for Nov. 17, 18 and 20, 2016.
The tournament will be held in San Juan and will showcase Arizona State, Clemson, Davidson, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tulane, UNI and Xavier.
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.
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
UNI (5-2) at George Mason (4-5)
Tues., Dec. 8, 2015 • 6 p.m. (CT)
Fairfax, Va. • EagleBank Arena (9,253)
BROADCAST INFO
Television
American Sports Network
Play-by-Play: Tim Neverett
Analyst: John Griffin
CFU Ch. 106, Mediacom Ch. 103, KFXA Ch. 28.2, Comcast SportsNet Chicago-PLUS
Radio
Panther Sports Network
Play-by-Play: Brad Wells
Analyst: Kevin Boyle
Flagship - NewsTalk 1540-AM KXEL
On the Web - UNIPanthers.com, TuneIn
OPENING TIP
• UNI (5-2 overall) will remain in the state of Virginia to take on the George Mason Patriots (4-5 overall) in Fairfax. The Panthers and Patriots will tip off in EagleBank Arena on Tuesday at 6 p.m. (CT).
• UNI and George Mason will be meeting for the fifth time having split the previous four meetings.
• UNI is 1-1 at EagleBank Arena having scored an 82-77 overtime win in the 2012-13 season. The Panthers dropped a 76-70 decision at GMU in the 2013-14 season.
• Last season, UNI posted a 71-65 overtime win over GMU in the McLeod Center.
• UNI leads the Missouri Valley Conference in three-point field goal percentage (.436).
• UNI has made the most three-pointers in the MVC with 68 made triples through seven games.
• UNI ranks No. 12 in the nation in field goal shooting (51.6 percent).
• UNI is scoring 79.9 points per game in 2015-16, which ranks as the second-highest single-season average in the last 46 years of Panther basketball. UNI averaged 85.1 points per game in the 1988-89 season.
• Wes Washpun leads the MVC in assists per game (6.4). He has 45 assists in UNI's first seven games.
• UNI has made at least one 3-pointer in 502 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. GEORGE MASON
PANTHERS REMAIN IN VIRGINIA FOR ROAD SWING
UNI (5-2 overall) will remain in the state of Virginia to take on the George Mason Patriots (4-5 overall) in Fairfax. The Panthers and Patriots will tip off in EagleBank Arena on Tuesday at 6 p.m. (CT).
SUNDAY IN D.C.
UNI enjoyed a tour of Washington D.C. on Sunday and was greeted at the nation's Capitol by United States Senator Charles Grassley, R-Iowa.
SCOUTING GEORGE MASON
The George Mason Patriots are off to a 4-5 start. The Patriots are 2-1 at home in EagleBank Arena.
GMU's leading scorer is Jaire Grayer, son of former Iowa State and NBA player Jeff Grayer. Grayer averages 12.1 points per game for the Patriots.
GMU is under the direction of first-year head coach Dave Paulsen. Paulsen coached the seven previous seasons at Bucknell in the Patriot League.
ALL-TIME SERIES
UNI and George Mason have met four times with all four matchups coming since the 2010-11 season.
George Mason posted a 77-71 victory over UNI in a BracketBuster game in the McLeod Center on Feb. 19, 2011.
UNI snapped GMU's 14-game home-court win streak on Dec. 8, 2012, when the Panthers tallied an 82-77 overtime win in Fairfax, Va.
GMU posted a 76-70 win over UNI last season on Nov. 16, 2013, at the Patriot Center.
UNI recorded a 71-65 overtime win vs. George Mason on Dec. 6, 2014, in the McLeod Center.
Tuesday's matchup is the third game of a four-game agreement between the two schools.
THREE-POINT PRODUCTION
UNI leads the Missouri Valley Conference in three-point field goal percentage (.436).
UNI has made the most three-pointers in the MVC with 68 made triples through seven games.
UNI has made at least seven three-pointers in every game this season.
NO. 12 IN FG PERCENTAGE
UNI ranks No. 12 in the nation in field goal shooting (51.6 percent).
PLENTY OF PANTHER POINTS
UNI is scoring 79.9 points per game in 2015-16, which ranks as the second-highest single-season average in the last 46 years of Panther basketball.
UNI averaged 85.1 points per game in the 1988-89 season.
DON'T FORGET THE DEFENSE
It's not all about scoring this year, as UNI can also play some defense.
UNI is allowing 68.1 points per game.
In UNI's five wins, the Panthers have limited the opposition to 67 points or less.
UNI'S 3-POINT STREAK
UNI has made at least one 3-pointer in 502 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.
SPIDERS SNAP UNI'S 5-GAME WIN STREAK
The Richmond Spiders snapped UNI's five-game winning streak on Saturday at the Robins Center, 82-67.
The Spiders drained 13 three-pointers and shot 53.6 percent from the field.
UNI was led in scoring by Matt Bohannon with 14 points. Bohannon and Paul Jesperson each drained three 3-pointers against the Spiders on Saturday.
DISHING AT A RECORD PACE
Senior guard Wes Washpun is handing out assists at a record-pace this season at 6.4 assists per game, which is also tops in the Missouri Valley Conference and ranks No. 21 in the country.
Jay Imhoff (1979-80) and Brooks McKowen (2006-07) hold the UNI single-season assist average record at 5.8 assists per game.
BO KEEPS KNOCKING 'EM IN
Senior guard Matt Bohannon has 21 three-pointers through the first seven games.
He has made at least one 3-pointer in 17 straight games - dating back to last season.
MORGAN IS MAKING PLAYS
Junior guard Jeremy Morgan has shown he can do it all this season from scoring and rebounding to defending.
Morgan leads the team in field goal percentage (.643), free throws made (25), rebounds (43), blocks (5) and steals (14). He ranks third on the team in scoring at 12.6 points per game.
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 (Nov. 21).
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 - 79 career starts
Jeremy Morgan - 52 career starts
Paul Jesperson - 40 career starts
Wes Washpun - 36 career starts
Bennett Koch - 7 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 196.
He is seven three-point makes away from tying Ben Jacobson's school-record 203 3-pointers set from 2002-2006.
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.) 196
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.) 503
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
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
UNI TO PLAY IN THE 2016 PUERTO RICO TIP-OFF
UNI will take part in the 2016 Puerto Rico Tip-Off set for Nov. 17, 18 and 20, 2016.
The tournament will be held in San Juan and will showcase Arizona State, Clemson, Davidson, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tulane, UNI and Xavier.
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.
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.
www.facebook.com/UNIAthletics
www.facebook.com/UNIMensBasketball
www.twitter.com/UNIAthletics
www.twittercom/UNIMBB
YOUTUBE
www.youtube.com/UNIAthletics
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