UNI Set For Saturday Matchup in McLeod vs Drake

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Drake (5-10, 0-3) at UNI (9-7, 1-2) | LIVE VIDEO | LIVE AUDIO | LIVE STATS
Sat., Jan.9, 2016 • 7 p.m. (CT)
Cedar Falls, Iowa • McLeod Center (6,650)

BROADCAST INFORMATION
Television
Panther Sports Network/ESPN3
   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

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

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 (9-7, 1-2 MVC) returns home to the McLeod Center to play host to intra-state foe Drake (5-10, 0-3 MVC) on Saturday at 7 p.m.

• UNI has won 13 consecutive home MVC contests.

• UNI is 25-5 vs. Drake in games played in Cedar Falls.

• Wes Washpun leads the MVC in assists (5.9 apg). He ranks No. 23 in the nation in assists per game.

• Jeremy Morgan is tops in the MVC in steals (1.9 spg).

• Klint Carlson leads the MVC in FT percentage (.844 - 27-of-32).

• Bennett Koch is shooting 76.9 percent (10-of-13 FGs) from the field and averaging 8.3 points per game since starting MVC play.

• Matt Bohannon leads the MVC in 3-pointers made (45). Bohannon has made three or more 3-pointers in a game 10 times.

• Paul Jesperson has made at least two 3-pointers in 10 consecutive games.

• UNI leads the MVC in 3-pointers made (146).

• UNI has made at least one 3-pointer in 511 straight games – the longest active streak in the Missouri Valley Conference.

• UNI has secured a pair of top-five wins (AP poll) this season with triumphs over No. 1 North Carolina and No. 5 Iowa State.

• UNI has registered 16 wins over ranked Division I opponents and 13 of those wins have come since Ben Jacobson joined the UNI coaching staff in the 2001-02 season.

• 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. DRAKE

UNI RETURNS HOME TO MCLEOD CENTER VS. DRAKE
UNI returns to the friendly confines of the McLeod Center Saturday to take on intra-state foe Drake.
   The Panthers have won five consecutive home games heading into Saturday's 7 p.m. tip vs. the Bulldogs.
   The Panthers completed non-conference play at 8-5 overall. UNI posted two top-five wins in non-conference play with triumphs over No. 1 North Carolina (71-67) and No. 5 Iowa State (81-79).

SCOUTING DRAKE
Drake will head into Saturday's contest in the McLeod Center with a 5-10 overall mark and an 0-3 ledger in MVC play.
   The Bulldogs have lost seven of their last eight contests with the only victory coming Dec. 22 at home against Abilene Christian, 87-70.
   Drake is led by the MVC's No. 4-leading scorer in Reed Timmer (17.4 ppg). Timmer is shooting 50.9 percent from the field, including 45.3 percent from 3-point range.
   Kale Abramson is scoring 15.5 ppg and leads the Bulldogs with 38 three-pointers.

ALL-TIME SERIES VS. DRAKE
UNI owns a 41-25 lead in the all-time series vs. Drake.
   UNI is 25-5 vs. Drake in games played in Cedar Falls.
   The Panthers have won 11 of the last 13 matchups overall vs. the Bulldogs.
   The Bulldogs are 3-6 all-time in the McLeod Center, but have lost six straight games in the Panthers's home building.

BACK-TO-BACK MVC LOSSES
UNI has suffered back-to-back losses in the MVC for the first time since the 2013-14 season.
   In fact, UNI dropped three straight league games that year with setbacks against Indiana State (87-81 - Feb. 1, 2014), at Illinois State (76-65 - Feb. 5, 2014) and vs. Wichita State (82-73 - Feb. 8, 2014).

13 STRAIGHT MVC HOME GAMES
UNI has won 13 consecutive Missouri Valley Conference home games dating back to the 2013-14 season.
   UNI was a perfect 9-0 at home last year in league games and the Panthers won their final three home games of the 2013-14 MVC season.
   UNI began league play this year at home with an 80-44 win over Bradley.

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 118-29 (.802) in games played in the McLeod Center. UNI is 63-19 in MVC games 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   5-1

FOUR 500-PLUS POINT SCORERS
UNI's starting lineup features four 500-plus point collegiate scorers.
   Matt Bohannon has posted 871 career points, while Wes Washpun has recorded 783 points. Paul Jesperson has tallied 598 career points and Jeremy Morgan has been credited with 560 career points.

BO KNOCKS 'EM IN FOR MVC PLAY
UNI senior guard Matt Bohannon holds the UNI career record for most three-pointers in Missouri Valley Conference games.
   Bohannon has drained 123 three-pointers in 57 MVC games.
   The previous UNI mark was set by Ben Jacobson with 113 three-pointers in MVC games only from 2002-2006.

CARLSON LEADS MVC IN FT%
Sophomore forward Klint Carlson leads the MVC in free throw percentage (.844 - 27-of-32).

KOCH'S CONTRIBUTIONS
Sophomore center Bennett Koch is shooting 76.9 percent (10-of-13 FGs) from the field and averaging 8.3 points per game since starting MVC play.

JESPERSON DRAINS TRIPLES TWO AT A TIME
Senior guard Paul Jesperson has made at least two 3-pointers in 10 consecutive games. Jesperson ranks second on the team with 39 3-pointers this season.

BOHANNON PREFERS THREES
Senior guard Matt Bohannon leads the MVC in 3-pointers made (45).
   Bohannon has made three or more 3-pointers in a game 10 times so far this 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 ranks first on the team in rebounding (81), steals (30) and blocks (10). He ranks fourth on the team in scoring (11.1 ppg).
   He leads the MVC in steals with 30 (1.9 spg), ranks second in the league in free throw percentage (.821) and ranks No. 4 in the league in field goal percentage (.544).
   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).

WASHPUN TOP 10 IN ASSISTS
Senior guard Wes Washpun has cracked the top-10 list at UNI in career assists. Washpun has dished out 304 assists at UNI.
   Washpun also handed out 23 assists at Tennessee as a freshman in the 2011-12 season, giving him 327 for his collegiate career.

UNI CAREER ASSISTS
1.   Dale Turner (1988-1992)   520
2.   Brooks McKowen (2003-07)   425
3.   Robbie Williams (1982-1986)   418
4.   Mark Long (1975-1979)   387
5.   Deon Mitchell (2011-15)   373
6.   Chris Foster (2000-2005)   370
7.   Ben Jacobson (2002-2006)   357
8.   Kwadzo Ahelegbe (2006-2011)   342
9.   Nick Nurse (1985-1989)   340
10.   Wes Washpun (2013-present)   304

DISHING AT A RECORD PACE
Senior guard Wes Washpun is handing out assists at a record-pace this season at 5.9 assists per game, which is also tops in the Missouri Valley Conference and ranks No. 23 in the country.
   Jay Imhoff (1979-80) and Brooks McKowen (2006-07) hold the UNI single-season assist record at 5.8 assists per game.

UNI'S 3-POINT STREAK
UNI has made at least one 3-pointer in 511 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.

DON'T FORGET THE DEFENSE
It's not all about scoring this year, as UNI can also play some defense.
   UNI is allowing 67.9 points per game.
   In UNI's nine wins, the Panthers have limited the opposition to 62.0 points per game.

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 - 88 career starts
Jeremy Morgan - 61 career starts
Paul Jesperson - 49 career starts
Wes Washpun - 45 career starts
Bennett Koch - 16 career starts

BO SETS CAREER 3-POINT MARK
Senior guard Matt Bohannon set UNI's all-time three-point field goals made mark against Hawaii (Dec. 22).
   Bohannon has drained 220 career 3-pointers to surpass the previous record of 203 set by Ben Jacobson (2002-2006).

UNI CAREER 3-POINTERS MADE
1.   Matt Bohannon (2012-pres.)   220
2.   Ben Jacobson (2002-06)           203
3.   Johnny Moran (2008-12)   201
   Marc Sonnen (2009-13)           201
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.   Matt Bohannon (2012-pres.)   568
3.   Ben Jacobson (2002-06)           519
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

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.

MBB INKS 3 IN EARLY SIGNING
UNI has announced the signing of Isaiah Brown, Tanner Lohaus, Juwan McCloud to National Letters-of-Intent to play for UNI Beginning in 2016-17.
   Brown (Flower Mound, Texas/Flower Mound HS) is a 6'5", 170-pound, guard from Flower Mound, Texas. Brown averaged 14 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.0 steals as a junior at Flower Mound High School for head coach Eric Littleton. Flower Mound finished third in their district in 2014-15. He earned second-team all-district honors as a junior. He is the No. 25-ranked recruit in the 2016 recruiting class in the state of Texas according to Texas Hoops. He played AUU ball for Marcus Smart YGC36 for head coach Vonzell Thomas. He is the son of Craig and Sophia Brown. He has two siblings, Landon (10) and Maliyah (2).
   Lohaus (North Liberty, Iowa/Iowa City West HS) is a 6'7" 205-pound forward. Lohaus helped Iowa City West to the 2014 state championship for head coach Steve Bergman and a 23-3 record. Lohaus guided Iowa City West to a third-place finish in the 2015 state tournament with a 25-1 record. As a junior, Lohaus averaged 11.1 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.0 assists. He earned second-team all-Mississippi Valley Conference honors as a junior. He is the son of Anne Lohaus and Brad Lohaus. He is the younger brother of UNI sophomore guard Wyatt Lohaus.
   Juwan McCloud (Germantown, Wis./Germantown HS) is a 5'11" 150-pound guard. McCloud was named the North Shore Conference player of the year after helping lead the Warhawks to their sixth consecutive league crown. McCloud led Germantown HS to the Division I state championship game as a junior. He averaged 16.7 points per game as Germantown posted a mark of 27-1 in 2014-15 for then head coach Steve Showalter. McCloud played AAU with the Wisconsin Swing coached by Justin Litscher. He is the son of Brian and Mellisa McCloud. He has an older brother, Jalen.

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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Wes Washpun

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