UNI Returns to McLeod Wednesday vs George Mason

COMPLETE RELEASE (PDF)

George Mason (4-3) at UNI (3-2) | ESPN3 | AUDIO | STATS
Wed., Nov. 30, 2016 • 7 p.m. (CT)
Cedar Falls, Iowa • McLeod Center

Tickets available beginning at $10
www.unipanthers.com/tickets

BROADCAST INFORMATION
Television
Panther Sports Network/ESPN3
Play-by-Play: Eric Braley
Analyst: Kevin Lehman

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

Stats
UNI.Statbroadcast.com

SERIES NOTES
All-Times Series: UNI leads 3-2
• Last Meeting: UNI 73, George Mason 65 (Dec. 8, 2015)
• UNI has won two straight games in the series with George Mason. Mason won the first meeting between the teams in a BracketBuster game in 2011.

UNI MEN'S BASKETBALL STORYLINES
• UNI (3-2 overall) will return home to the McLeod Center to take on the George Mason Patriots (4-3 overall) Wednesday at 7 p.m.

• UNI and George Mason will be meeting for the sixth time – all six meetings will have come since the 2010-11 season. UNI holds a 3-2 lead in the series and the Panthers have won two straight against the Patriots.

• UNI is 26-1 at home in the month of November. UNI opened the season with a 74-37 home victory over Coe on Nov. 12.

• The Panthers are 56-10 vs. non-conference foes in the McLeod Center.

• Senior guard Jeremy Morgan is carrying a big portion of the Panther stat sheet through five games. Morgan leads UNI in scoring (16.4 points/game), rebounding (6.8 rebounds/game), steals (19), blocks (13), assists (13), field goals made (24), free throws made (17) and three-pointers made (17).

• Morgan ranks second in the nation in steals (3.80 steals/game).

• UNI has been picked to finish third in the preseason MVC poll behind Wichita State and Illinois State. Morgan has been tabbed the MVC's Preseason Player of the Year. He is the third Panther to earn that honor following Randy Blocker (1993-94) and Ben Jacobson (2005-06).

UNI MEN'S BASKETBALL NOTES

UNI RETURNS HOME FOR MATCH UP AGAINST GEORGE MASON
UNI (3-2 overall) will return home to the McLeod Center to take on the George Mason Patriots (4-3 overall) Wednesday at 7 p.m.

TV BROADCAST INFORMATION
Wednesday's game will be broadcast live on the Panther Sports Television Network. Clearances for the game include Cedar Falls Utilities Ch. 15, KCRG Ch. 9.2, WHO Ch. 13.2, KGCW Ch. 26, Time Warner Cable Kansas City Ch. 324, Comcast SportsNet Chicago-PLUS and ESPN3.
   Eric Braley (play-by-play) and Kevin Lehman (analyst) will call the action courtside in the McLeod Center.

GEORGE MASON PATRIOTS
The George Mason Patriots (4-3 overall) are in the midst of a three-game win streak. The Patriots have scored wins this season over Lebanon Valley (90-65), Kent State (79-75), Bradley (77-66) and James Madison (80-77 OT).

ALL-TIME SERIES
UNI holds a 3-2 lead in the all-time series vs. George Mason. UNI scored a 73-65 victory last season in Fairfax, Va.
   The squad's first met in a BracketBuster game in the McLeod Center in the 2010-11 season.

MORGAN IS CARRYING THE LOAD
Senior guard Jeremy Morgan is carrying a big portion of the Panther stat sheet through five games.
   Morgan leads UNI in scoring (16.4 points/game), rebounding (6.8 rebounds/game), steals (19), blocks (13), assists (13), field goals made (24), free throws made (17) and three-pointers made (17).
   Morgan ranks No. 2 in the nation in steals (3.80 steals/game).

NOVEMBER IN MCLEOD CENTER
UNI is 26-1 in the month of November in the McLeod Center.
   UNI opened the season with a 74-37 home win over Coe for its only home game so far this season.

CHILLY IN CINCINNATI
UNI was limited to 12 points on four made field goals in the opening 20 minutes Saturday at No. 9-ranked Xavier.
   The 12 first-half points are the fewest scored in an opening half in head coach Ben Jacobson's 11 years at the helm of the Panther program.
   The previous lowest first-half output came when the Panthers mustered 13 points at Saint Mary's en route to a 57-41 loss in Moraga, Calif., on Nov. 14, 2011.
   The 42-point output for the game is the lowest since UNI lost to Loyola last season at home, 51-41.

STILL DEFENSIVE
UNI ranks No. 19 in the nation in scoring defense giving up 59.6 points per game.

LOHAUS GAMES PLAYED STREAK SNAPPED
Junior guard Wyatt Lohaus had his streak of 75 consecutive games played halted on Saturday at Xavier when he sat out with an ankle injury.

ASHTON DRAWS FIRST START
Senior guard Jordan Ashton made his first collegiate start at Xavier as he took the place of an injured Wyatt Lohaus.
   Ashton ranks second on the squad with 20 rebounds (4.0 rebounds per agme).

3-POINT LINE HAS BEEN KIND
UNI ranks No. 15 in the nation in three-pointers made per game (10.2).
   UNI has made 10 or more three-pointers in four of its five games this season.
   UNI drained 10 from 3-point range vs. Coe. The Panthers made 13 3-pointers in a victory vs. Arizona State. UNI poured in 12 3-pointers in the win over Oklahoma. The Panthers made 10 3-pointers against Xavier in the championship game of the Tire Pros Invitational in Orlando.

COACH JAKE RANKS 7TH IN ALL-TIME MVC VICTORIES
UNI head coach Ben Jacobson has tallied 223 career wins to rank No. 7 in MVC history.

MVC Coaching Victories
1.    Henry Iba (Oklahoma State)   486
2.    Eddie Hickey (Creighton/St. Louis)   337
3.    Dana Altman (Creighton)   327
4.   Gregg Marshall (Wichita State)   234
   Barry Hinson (Missouri State/SIU)   234
6.   Rich Herrin (Southern Illinois)   225
7.   Ben Jacobson (UNI)   223
8.   Ralph Miller (Wichita State)   221
9.   Maury John (Drake)   211
10.   Joe Stowell (Bradley)   197

MORGAN MOVING UP
THE DEFENSIVE CHARTS
Senior guard Jeremy Morgan, who earned a spot on last year's MVC All-Defensive squad, is making his way up the UNI defensive charts in regard to blocked shots and steals.
   Morgan ranks No. 7 at UNI in steals (147) and No. 9 in blocked shots (79).

BLOCKED SHOTS
1.   Grant Stout (2004-07           222
2.   Jake Koch (2009-13)           123
3.   Jordan Eglseder (2006-10)   120
4.   Sean Hawkins (1995-980       118
5.   Eric Coleman (2004-08)           115
6.   Seth Tuttle (2011-15)           95
7.   Jason Sims (1993-96)           90
8.   Scott Stafford (1984-85)           85
9.   Jeremy Morgan (2013-pres.)   79
10.   Steve Phyfe (1988-90)           66

STEALS
1.   Brent Carmichael (1981-83)   180
2.   Nick Nurse (1986-89)           165
3.   Andy Woodley (1998-02)   159
4.   Ben Jacobson (2002-06)           154
5.   Johnny Moran (2008-12)   152
6.   Jeremy Morgan (2013-pres.)   147
7.   Dale Turner (1988-92)           143
8.   Robbie Williams (1982-86)   140
9.   Brian Carpenter (1992-96)   138
10.   Darian DeVries (1994-98)   131

UNI'S 3-POINT STREAK
UNI has made at least one 3-pointer in 536 straight games – the longest active streak in the MVC.

WINNING TRADITION AT MCLEOD
UNI will be playing its 11th season in the McLeod Center and the Panthers have made winning a priority in their home venue.
   UNI has posted an all-time mark of 125-31 (.801) in games played in the McLeod Center.
   UNI secured a school-record 16 home wins in the 2012-13 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 in 2014-15.
   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 9 STRAIGHT YRS
UNI has won 11 or more home games in the McLeod Center in nine 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   11-3
2016-17   1-0

DOUBLE-DOUBLES
Jeremy Morgan is tied for the MVC lead in double-doubles this season with two.
   Morgan went for 20 points and 12 rebounds in an 82-63 win over Arizona State. Morgan then notched 20 points and 11 rebounds vs. Xavier.
   His only previous double-double before this season came in the 2016 NCAA Tournament vs. Texas A&M with 36 points and 12 rebounds.

AMONG THE ELITE
UNI is one of 13 teams to have won at least one game in the NCAA Tournament and accumulate 54 combined wins over the past two seasons.
   The elite list of squads include UNI, Duke, Gonzaga, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Oregon, Villanova, Wichita State, Wisconsin and Virginia.

20-WIN SEASONS
UNI has had 12 20-win seasons in program history – 10 of those 20-win seasons have come since 2003-04.

PROTECTING THE HOME COURT
UNI has won 11 or more home games in the McLeod Center in nine consecutive seasons.

BOOK IT IN THE UPPER HALF
UNI's streak of 13 straight upper-half finishes in the MVC is the league's longest active streak.

NINE OR MORE MVC WINS
The Panthers have won nine or more MVC games in each of the past 13 seasons – also the MVC's longest active streak.

TOP-FOUR FINISHES IN MVC
UNI has finished in the top four of the MVC standings in eight consecutive seasons.

EIGHT NCAA TRIPS FOR UNI
UNI made its eighth appearance in the NCAA Tournament last season. The Panthers are 5-8 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
2016 - W, 75-72 vs. #6 Texas
2016 - L, 92-88 (2OT) vs. #3 Texas A&M

7TH NCAA APPEARANCE SINCE 2004
The Panthers made their seventh NCAA appearance since the 2004 season. The seven appearances since 2004 is the most of any member of the MVC in that time frame.
   Wichita State has appeared in six NCAA Tournaments since 2004, to rank second in the MVC behind the Panthers.

MVC'S NCAA Appearances Since 2004
UNI (7) - 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2016
Wichita St. (6) - 2006, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
Southern Illinois (4) - 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
Creighton (4) - 2005, 2007, 2012, 2013
Indiana State (1) - 2011
Drake (1) - 2008
Bradley (1) - 2006

IN THE UPPER HALF
UNI has finished in the upper half of the Missouri Valley Conference's final standings in 13 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.

13 STRAIGHT YEARS OF 9 OR MORE MVC WINS
UNI has won nine or more MVC games in 13 consecutive seasons - the longest active streak in the league.
   Wichita State has the second longest active streak at seven.

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)
2015-16 - 11-7 (T-4th)

WORKIN' OVERTIME
UNI played its first overtime game of the 2016-17 season in the semifinals of the Tire Pros Invitational against Oklahoma. UNI posted a 73-67 win over the Sooners.
   Head coach Ben Jacobson is 10-8 all-time in overtime games.

UNI's Overtime Games Since 2006
L, 67-64 at Illinois State (1/9/07)
W, 64-60 at UMKC (12/19/07)
W, 77-75 vs. Wichita State (2/13/08)
L, 71-66 vs. Iowa State (12/3/08)
L, 85-84 (2OT) vs. Indiana State (12/28/08)
W, 69-67 at Illinois State (2/24/09)
W, 60-57 vs. Illinois State (3/8/09)
W, 84-81 vs. Toledo (11/14/12)
W, 82-77 at George Mason (12/8/12)
L, 54-51 at Evansville (1/29/13)
L, 91-82 vs. Iowa State (12/7/13)
L, 93-87 at Loyola (1/25/14)
W, 79-77 at Stephen F. Austin (11/18/14)
W, 71-65 vs. George Mason (12/6/14)
L, 93-87 (2OT) at VCU (12/13/14)
W, 57-52 vs. Wichita State (3/5/16)
L, 92-88 (2OT) vs. Texas A&M (3/20/16)
W, 73-67 vs. Oklahoma (11/18/16)

UNI VS. RANKED TEAMS
Since the 1979-80 season, UNI is 17-37 vs. ranked foes.
   UNI has registered 17 wins over ranked Division I opponents and 14 of those wins have come since Ben Jacobson joined the UNI coaching staff in the 2001-02 season.
   UNI has three neutral-court wins over ranked foes, with two of those coming in 1990 and 2010 NCAA tournaments.
   UNI is 2-0 all-time against No. 1-ranked opponents. UNI secured a 71-67 win over North Carolina in the McLeod Center on Nov. 21, 2015. The Panthers also recorded a 69-67 win over No. 1 Kansas in the 2010 NCAA Tournament.
   UNI has posted a mark of 3-2 in its last five matchups against top-five ranked foes.

UNI vs. Ranked Opponents (since 1979-80)
#9    Xavier   L, 64-42 (A) - 11/26/16
#11   Xavier   L, 67-59 (N) - 11/20/16
#15   Texas A&M   L, 92-88 2ot (N) - 3/20/16
#25   Wichita State   W, 53-50 (A) - 2/13/16
#5   Iowa State   W, 81-79 (N) - 12/19/15
#1   North Carolina   W, 71-67 (H) - 11/21/15
#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
17-37   12-6   2-17   3-14

PANTHERS TABBED THIRD IN MVC PRESEASON POLL
UNI has been slotted to finish third in the preseason 2016-17 Missouri Valley Conference poll.

MVC Preseason Poll
School (First-Place Votes) Total
1.   Wichita State (37)       413
2.   Illinois State (4)       356
3.   UNI (1)       348
4.   Missouri State       278
5.   Southern Illinois       228
6.   Indiana State       219
7.   Loyola       179
8.   Bradley       110
9.   Evansville       106
10.   Drake       73

UNI MBB IN APR TOP-10 PERCENT
The UNI 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 four 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.

UNI SIGNS PHYFE TO NLI
UNI head men's basketball coach Ben Jacobson announced the signing of Austin Phyfe (Waverly, Iowa/Waverly-Shell Rock HS) to a National Letter-of-Intent to play for the Panthers beginning in 2017-18.
   Phyfe (6'9", 235 lbs., Forward) is the No. 2 recruit in the state of Iowa, according to IowaPreps.com. He earned second-team all-state honors from the Iowa Newspaper Association as a junior for head coach Nate Stegge. Phyfe notched third-team all-state accolades as a sophomore. Phyfe is a three-time all-Northeast Iowa Conference pick, including a pair of first-team honors the past two seasons. Phyfe averaged 14.5 points, grabbed 8.4 rebounds and shot 64 percent from the field in leading Waverly-Shell Rock to an 18-6 record in 2015-16. Phyfe scored 13.7 points and grabbed 7.9 rebounds as a sophomore in helping the GoHawks to a 22-3 record and a berth into the state tournament. As a freshman, he helped the GoHawks the state tournament and into the semifinals. Phyfe played AAU for the Iowa Barnstormers.
    He is the son of Steve and Lisa Phyfe. His father, Steve, played basketball for the Panthers from 1987-1990. His sister, Aftin, is a member of the UNI swimming and diving team.

UNI TO PLAY IN 2017 BATTLE 4 ATLANTIS
Celebrating its seventh year of elite collegiate tournament play, the 2017 Battle 4 Atlantis will include Villanova, Arizona, Purdue, North Carolina State, Tennessee, Southern Methodist, Western Kentucky and UNI.
   The 2017 early season tournament field boasts a combined 16 Final Four appearances and five National Championships between the field. The annual Battle 4 Atlantis once again falls during the Thanksgiving holiday, scheduled to take place November 22-24, 2017. The 12-game, three-day tournament is regarded as one of the most challenging early-season tournaments.
   It will mark UNI's second appearance in the Battle 4 Atlantis. UNI also took part in the tournament in the 2012 Battle 4 Atlantis as the Panthers played Louisville, Stanford and Memphis.

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), 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 6:30 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

INSTAGRAM
www.instagram.com/UNIAthletics

Calendar

Upcoming Events

UNI Returns to McLeod Wednesday vs George Mason

Next Event

Players Mentioned

Jordan Ashton

Wyatt Lohaus

Jeremy Morgan

Upcoming Events

University of Northern Iowa Athletics