UNI, Loyola To Lock Horns Wednesday in McLeod
1/16/2017 4:04:00 PM | Men's Basketball
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Loyola (13-6, 3-3) at UNI (6-11, 1-5) | VIDEO | AUDIO | STATS
Wed., Jan. 18, 2017 • 7 p.m. (CT)
Cedar Falls, Iowa • McLeod Center
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Television
MVC TV
Play-by-Play: Mitch Holthus
Analyst: Rich Zvosec
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 9-5
• Last Meeting: Loyola 77, UNI 66 (Jan. 4, 2017)
• Loyola has won three consecutive matchups vs. UNI.
UNI holds a 5-1 record vs. Loyola in games played in Cedar Falls. Loyola is 1-3 in the McLeod Center.
UNI MEN'S BASKETBALL STORYLINES
• UNI (6-11 overall, 1-5 MVC) will look to even the season series vs. the Loyola Ramblers (13-6 overall, 3-3 MVC) Wednesday in the McLeod Center. UNI and Loyola will tip at 7 p.m.
• Loyola scored a 77-66 victory over UNI at Gentile Arena in Chicago on Jan. 4. Loyola's Dante Ingram scored a game-high 25 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as the Ramblers won their third straight game vs. UNI.
• Over the last four games, senior guard Jordan Ashton is averaging 13.0 points per game and is shooting 51.4 percent from the field. Ashton has tallied four consecutive double-figure scoring games, including a career-high 17 points Sunday vs. Drake.
• Junior Bennett Koch set a McLeod Center record by making all eight of his field goal attempts and scoring a season-high 21 points in a 79-60 win over Drake.
• UNI had its highest shooting percentage game of the season Sunday vs. Drake when the Panthers made 56.9 percent of their shots shots.
• UNI is 6-1 when scoring 70 or more points this season. UNI's only loss when scoring 70 or more came in an 81-73 loss at Wyoming. The Panthers are 0-10 when scoring less than 70 points.
UNI MEN'S BASKETBALL NOTES VS. LOYOLA
UNI LOOKS TO EVEN SEASON SERIES VS. LOYOLA
UNI (6-11 overall, 1-5 MVC) will look to even the season series vs. the Loyola Ramblers (13-6 overall, 3-3 MVC) Wednesday in the McLeod Center.Â
   UNI and Loyola will tip at 7 p.m.
TICKET INFORMATION
UNI is offering a ticket deal in the general admission area with $10 adult tickets and $5 youth (16-and-under) tickets for its remaining six home games.
   Call 319-273-4849 or visit www.UNIPanthers.com/tickets to order.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Wednesday's game will be available for viewing on ESPN3.Â
   Mitch Holthus (play-by-play) and Rich Zvosec (analyst) will call the contest.
   The telecast will be cleared live on FOX Sports Midwest, FOX Sports Indiana Plus and FOX Sports Kansas City, Comcast SportsNet Chicago, ESPN3 (outside the states of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska).
LOYOLA RAMBLERS
Loyola enters Wednesday's game in a four-way tie for fourth place in the MVC standings. The Ramblers have won three of their last four after opening MVC play with two losses.
   Entering his fifth season at the helm, Porter Moser has the Loyola University Chicago men's basketball program firmly headed in the right direction. As a player at Creighton, Moser was a two-year starter and helped the Bluejays to the 1989 Missouri Valley Conference title.
   Senior guard Milton Doyle was a preseason second-team all-Missouri Valley Conference pick and leads the squad in scoring at 16.1 points per game. Aundre Jackson (14.9 ppg), Donte Ingram (13.4 ppg) and Clayton Custer (12.0 ppg) are also averaging more than 10 points per contest this season for Loyola.
ALL-TIME SERIES
UNI holds a 9-5 lead in the series against the Loyola Ramblers.
   Loyola has won three straight games against UNI, including a 77-66 victory over the Panthers in Chicago on Jan. 4.Â
   Jacobson is 5-5 against Loyola since taking over as head coach.Â
   Jacobson has posted a record of 3-1 against the Ramblers in the McLeod Center.Â
KOCHING WITH ALL INGREDIENTS
Junior Bennett Koch set a McLeod Center record by making all eight of his field goal attempts and scoring a season-high 21 points in a 79-60 win over Drake.Â
   Koch surpassed the previous best field goal mark in the McLeod Center set by Seth Tuttle, who was 7-of-7 in field goals vs. North Florida (11/22/14).Â
   The only Panther to have a better night from the field is Matt Schneiderman, who went 10-for-10 from the field vs. Wayne State (11/25/02).Â
   Koch leads the Panthers in field goal percentage this season (.622).
ASHTON KEEPS IT COMING
Over the last four games, senior guard Jordan Ashton is averaging 13.0 points per game
   Ashton is shooting 55.6 percent from beyond the three-point arc and 51.6 overall from the field.
   Ashton has tallied four consecutive double-figure scoring games, including a career-high 17 points Sunday vs. Drake.
   He has also made all six of his free throws attempts in the four matchups. Overall, Ashton has made 11 consecutive free throws.
TWO 20-POINT SCORERS
UNI had two players score 20 or more points in the same game for the first time this season when Jeremy Morgan and Bennett Koch each tallied 21 points against Drake (1/15).
   The last time UNI had two players score 20 or more came Dec. 19, 2015, vs. Iowa State when Wes Washpun scored 28 points and Paul Jesperson scored 21 points in an 81-79 victory over the Cyclones.
Active 20-Plus Point Scoring Games
Jeremy Morgan (9)Â
Bennett Koch (2)
Klint Carlson (1)
Hunter Rhodes (1)
PANTHERS MAKING SHOTS
UNI had its highest shooting percentage game of the season Sunday when the Panthers made 56.9 percent of their shots.Â
   UNI had not shot that well at home in the McLeod Center since last season's MVC opener vs. Bradley when the Panthers buried 58.7 percent of its shots in an 80-44 victory.Â
   UNI's 56.9 percent shooting is the highest shooting game for the Panthers since last season's 61.8 percent shooting game at Drake (2/6/16) - a span of 29 games.
BATTLING ON THE BOARDS
UNI won the rebounding battle vs. Drake, 31-27.Â
   It marked the first rebounding win for the Panthers since 32-29 advantage over Arizona State (11/17).
HALFTIME LEAD
UNI enjoyed a halftime lead over Drake, 45-25. It marked the first halftime lead for the Panthers since a 49-25 edge over South Dakota State (Dec. 7).
PLAYING FROM BEHIND
The Panthers had been playing from behind in their 0-5 league start, but UNI turned the tables Sunday vs. Drake by leading for 37:51.
   Prior to Sunday, UNI had led for a total of 6:05 in its first five league games this season. UNI led Wichita State for 4:41 and Loyola for 1:24.
MORGAN RANKS AMONG THE NATION'S BEST
Senior Jeremy Morgan, the preseason MVC player of the year, is the only player in the NCAA to average 10.0 points (16.9), 3.0 rebounds (6.6), 2.0 assists (3.1), 2.0 steals (2.3) and 1.0 blocks (1.4).
   No NCAA player in the past 10 seasons has done the following for a season: 15.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 2.0 apg, 2.0 spg, 1.5 blocks, 2.0 3FGM/g, and only one has done that stat line in the past 20 seasons (Shane Battier of Duke in 1999-00).
   Morgan leads UNI in scoring, rebounding, assists, steals, blocks, 3FGM, and FTM.
MORGAN NETS 1,000 POINTS
Jeremy Morgan became the 41st member of UNI's 1,000 point club at Evansville (1/1).
   Morgan has tallied 1,058 career points and ranks No. 32 on UNI's all-time scoring list.
UNI'S 1,000-POINT SCORERS SINCE 2001
Morgan became the 16th Panther to score 1,000 or more points since the start of the 2001 season – the first season that Ben Jacobson joined the coaching staff as an assistant. Jacobson took over the head job in the 2006-07 season.
1,000-Point Scorers Since 2001
Ben Jacobson (2003-06) 1,787 pts.
Seth Tuttle (2011-15) 1,747 pts.
Eric Coleman (2005-08) 1,522 pts.
Kwadzo Ahelegbe (2006-11) 1,329 pts.
Anthony James (2008-13) 1,305 pts.
Grant Stout (2004-07) 1,232 pts.
Deon Mitchell (2011-15) 1,200 pts.
Adam Koch (2006-10) 1,186 pts.
David Gruber (2002-04) 1,116 pts.
Jake Koch (2009-2013) 1,113 pts.
Matt Bohannon (2011-16.) 1,092 pts.
Jordan Eglseder (2006-10) 1,066 pts.
Jeremy Morgan (2013-pres.) 1,058 pts.
Johnny Moran (2008-12) 1,048 pts.
Wes Washpun (2013-16.) 1,035 pts.
Chris Foster (2000-05) 1,027 pts.
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. 3 at UNI in steals (164) and No. 8 in blocked shots (89).
   Morgan is looking to become only the second UNI player to tally 100 steals and 100 blocks in his career. The only previous Panther to achieve that feat was Jake Koch, who posted 118 steals and 123 blocks from 2009-2013.
STEALS - UNI (CAREER)
1.   Brent Carmichael (1981-83)   180
2.   Nick Nurse (1986-89)   165
3.   Jeremy Morgan (2013-pres.)   164
4.   Andy Woodley (1998-02)   159
5.   Ben Jacobson (2002-06)   154
6.   Johnny Moran (2008-12)   152
7.   Dale Turner (1988-92)   143
8.   Robbie Williams (1982-86)   140
9.   Brian Carpenter (1992-96)   138
10.   Darian DeVries (1994-98)   131
BLOCKED SHOTS - UNI (CAREER)
1.   Grant Stout (2004-0)   222
2.   Jake Koch (2009-13)   123
3.   Jordan Eglseder (2006-10)   120
4.   Sean Hawkins (1995-98)   118
5.   Eric Coleman (2004-08)   115
6.   Seth Tuttle (2011-15)   95
7.   Jason Sims (1993-96)   90
8.   Jeremy Morgan (2013-pres.)   89
9.   Scott Stafford (1984-85)   85
10.   Steve Phyfe (1988-90)   66
MORGAN KNOCKS DOWN TRIPLES TOO
Senior guard Jeremy Morgan can also knock down the three-point shot.Â
   Morgan has tallied 149 career three-pointers made to rank No. 9 all-time at UNI.Â
THREE-POINTERS MADE - UNI (CAREER)
1.   Matt Bohannon (2012-16)   268
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 Farohkmanesh (2008-10)   152
9.   Jeremy Morgan (2013-pres.)   149
10.   Maurice Newby (1987-91)   146
SPENCER SPARKS OFFENSE
Redshirt freshman Spencer Haldeman has recorded three straight double-figure scoring games and ranks second on the team in scoring at 9.3 points per game.Â
   Haldeman scored a team-high 16 points at Bradley and then followed it up with 10 points off the bench vs. Drake (1/15).Â
   Haldeman is tied for the team lead in three-pointers made (36).Â
   Haldeman has recorded eight double-digit scoring games, including a season-high 18 points at Wyoming (12/3).
TEDDY HITS THE BOARDSÂ
Junior center Ted Friedman leads the Panthers with 17 offensive rebounds.
SCORING TRENDS
UNI is 6-1 when scoring 70 or more points this season. UNI's only loss when scoring 70 or more came in an 81-73 loss at Wyoming.
   The Panthers are 0-10 when scoring less than 70 points.
FOR STARTERS
UNI has used eight different starting lineups this season in its 17 games.
   UNI has had nine different players draw starts this season.
UNI's 2016-17 Starting Lineups
Carlson-McCloud-Morgan-Koch-Lohaus (4)
Carlson-McCloud-Morgan-Koch-Ashton (4)
Carlson-Friedman-McCloud-Morgan-Ashton (1)
Friedman-McCloud-Morgan-Brown-Haldeman (2)
Carlson-Friedman-McCloud-Morgan-Haldeman (1)
Carlson-McCloud-Morgan-Koch-Haldeman (2)
Carlson-Morgan-Ashton-Koch-Haldeman (2)
Carlson-McCloud-Ashton-Koch-Haldeman (1)
WINNING TRADITION IN MCLEOD CENTER
UNI is 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 128-34 (.790) in games played in the McLeod Center.Â
   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
2007-08Â Â Â 11-6
2008-09Â Â Â 11-4
2009-10Â Â Â 14-0
2010-11Â Â Â 13-5
2011-12Â Â Â 13-3
2012-13Â Â Â 16-4
2013-14Â Â Â 11-2
2014-15Â Â Â 15-0
2015-16Â Â Â 11-3
2016-17Â Â Â 4-3Â
PROTECTING THE HOME COURT
UNI has won 11 or more home games in the McLeod Center in nine consecutive seasons.
COACH JAKE RANKS 6TH IN ALL-TIME MVC VICTORIES
UNI head coach Ben Jacobson has tallied 226 career wins to rank T-No. 6 in MVC history.
   Jacobson surpassed Rich Herrin (Southern Illinois), who tallied 225 career coaching victories.
MVC Coaching Victories
1. Â Â Â Henry Iba (Oklahoma State)Â Â Â 486
2. Â Â Â Eddie Hickey (Creighton/St. Louis)Â Â Â 337
3. Â Â Â Dana Altman (Creighton)Â Â Â 327
4.   Gregg Marshall (Wichita State)   245
5.   Barry Hinson (Missouri State/SIU)   242
6.   Ben Jacobson (UNI)   226
7.   Rich Herrin (Southern Illinois)   225
8.   Ralph Miller (Wichita State)   221
9.   Maury John (Drake)   211
10.   Joe Stowell (Bradley)   197
MVC Coaching Wins (Conf. Games Only)
1. Â Â Â Henry P. Iba (Oklahoma State) Â Â Â 187
2. Â Â Â Dana Altman (Creighton) Â Â Â 182
3. Â Â Â Eddie Hickey (Creighton/St. Louis) Â Â Â 163
5. Â Â Â Barry Hinson (Missouri State/SIU) Â Â Â 128
4. Â Â Â Dr. F.C. Allen (Kansas) Â Â Â 126
6.   Gregg Marshall (Wichita State)    122
7.   Ben Jacobson (UNI)    115
8. Â Â Â Rich Herrin (Southern Illinois) Â Â Â 111
9. Â Â Â Jim Molinari (Bradley) Â Â Â 110
10.   Maurice John (Drake)    95
3-POINT TALK
UNI has made at least one 3-pointer in 548 straight games – the longest active streak in the MVC.Â
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 previous 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.
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.Â
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.Â
TOP-FOUR FINISHES IN MVC
UNI has finished in the top four of the MVC standings in eight consecutive seasons.Â
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.Â
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.Â
   Wichita State has the second longest active streak at seven.Â
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)
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.Â
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
MVC's Dance Partners
Since the 2003-04 season, UNI and Wichita State have made the most appearances in the NCAA Tournament for the Missouri Valley Conference.
   The Panthers have made seven NCAA Tournament apperances since the 2003-04 season, while the Shockers have appeared in six NCAA tournaments in the same time frame.
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
20-WIN SEASONS
UNI has had 12 20-win seasons in program history – 10 of those 20-win seasons have come since 2003-04.Â
UNI MBB IN APR TOP-10 PERCENTÂ
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).Â
   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 LUNCHEONSÂ
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, YouTube and Instagram will have access to updates, score recaps and special announcements.
  Â
FACEBOOK
www.facebook.com/UNIAthleticsÂ
www.facebook.com/UNIMensBasketball
TWITTER
www.twitter.com/UNIAthletics
www.twittercom/UNIMBB
YOUTUBE
www.youtube.com/UNIAthletics
INSTAGRAM
www.instagram.com/UNIAthletics
Loyola (13-6, 3-3) at UNI (6-11, 1-5) | VIDEO | AUDIO | STATS
Wed., Jan. 18, 2017 • 7 p.m. (CT)
Cedar Falls, Iowa • McLeod Center
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Television
MVC TV
Play-by-Play: Mitch Holthus
Analyst: Rich Zvosec
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 9-5
• Last Meeting: Loyola 77, UNI 66 (Jan. 4, 2017)
• Loyola has won three consecutive matchups vs. UNI.
UNI holds a 5-1 record vs. Loyola in games played in Cedar Falls. Loyola is 1-3 in the McLeod Center.
UNI MEN'S BASKETBALL STORYLINES
• UNI (6-11 overall, 1-5 MVC) will look to even the season series vs. the Loyola Ramblers (13-6 overall, 3-3 MVC) Wednesday in the McLeod Center. UNI and Loyola will tip at 7 p.m.
• Loyola scored a 77-66 victory over UNI at Gentile Arena in Chicago on Jan. 4. Loyola's Dante Ingram scored a game-high 25 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as the Ramblers won their third straight game vs. UNI.
• Over the last four games, senior guard Jordan Ashton is averaging 13.0 points per game and is shooting 51.4 percent from the field. Ashton has tallied four consecutive double-figure scoring games, including a career-high 17 points Sunday vs. Drake.
• Junior Bennett Koch set a McLeod Center record by making all eight of his field goal attempts and scoring a season-high 21 points in a 79-60 win over Drake.
• UNI had its highest shooting percentage game of the season Sunday vs. Drake when the Panthers made 56.9 percent of their shots shots.
• UNI is 6-1 when scoring 70 or more points this season. UNI's only loss when scoring 70 or more came in an 81-73 loss at Wyoming. The Panthers are 0-10 when scoring less than 70 points.
UNI MEN'S BASKETBALL NOTES VS. LOYOLA
UNI LOOKS TO EVEN SEASON SERIES VS. LOYOLA
UNI (6-11 overall, 1-5 MVC) will look to even the season series vs. the Loyola Ramblers (13-6 overall, 3-3 MVC) Wednesday in the McLeod Center.Â
   UNI and Loyola will tip at 7 p.m.
TICKET INFORMATION
UNI is offering a ticket deal in the general admission area with $10 adult tickets and $5 youth (16-and-under) tickets for its remaining six home games.
   Call 319-273-4849 or visit www.UNIPanthers.com/tickets to order.
BROADCAST INFORMATION
Wednesday's game will be available for viewing on ESPN3.Â
   Mitch Holthus (play-by-play) and Rich Zvosec (analyst) will call the contest.
   The telecast will be cleared live on FOX Sports Midwest, FOX Sports Indiana Plus and FOX Sports Kansas City, Comcast SportsNet Chicago, ESPN3 (outside the states of Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska).
LOYOLA RAMBLERS
Loyola enters Wednesday's game in a four-way tie for fourth place in the MVC standings. The Ramblers have won three of their last four after opening MVC play with two losses.
   Entering his fifth season at the helm, Porter Moser has the Loyola University Chicago men's basketball program firmly headed in the right direction. As a player at Creighton, Moser was a two-year starter and helped the Bluejays to the 1989 Missouri Valley Conference title.
   Senior guard Milton Doyle was a preseason second-team all-Missouri Valley Conference pick and leads the squad in scoring at 16.1 points per game. Aundre Jackson (14.9 ppg), Donte Ingram (13.4 ppg) and Clayton Custer (12.0 ppg) are also averaging more than 10 points per contest this season for Loyola.
ALL-TIME SERIES
UNI holds a 9-5 lead in the series against the Loyola Ramblers.
   Loyola has won three straight games against UNI, including a 77-66 victory over the Panthers in Chicago on Jan. 4.Â
   Jacobson is 5-5 against Loyola since taking over as head coach.Â
   Jacobson has posted a record of 3-1 against the Ramblers in the McLeod Center.Â
KOCHING WITH ALL INGREDIENTS
Junior Bennett Koch set a McLeod Center record by making all eight of his field goal attempts and scoring a season-high 21 points in a 79-60 win over Drake.Â
   Koch surpassed the previous best field goal mark in the McLeod Center set by Seth Tuttle, who was 7-of-7 in field goals vs. North Florida (11/22/14).Â
   The only Panther to have a better night from the field is Matt Schneiderman, who went 10-for-10 from the field vs. Wayne State (11/25/02).Â
   Koch leads the Panthers in field goal percentage this season (.622).
ASHTON KEEPS IT COMING
Over the last four games, senior guard Jordan Ashton is averaging 13.0 points per game
   Ashton is shooting 55.6 percent from beyond the three-point arc and 51.6 overall from the field.
   Ashton has tallied four consecutive double-figure scoring games, including a career-high 17 points Sunday vs. Drake.
   He has also made all six of his free throws attempts in the four matchups. Overall, Ashton has made 11 consecutive free throws.
TWO 20-POINT SCORERS
UNI had two players score 20 or more points in the same game for the first time this season when Jeremy Morgan and Bennett Koch each tallied 21 points against Drake (1/15).
   The last time UNI had two players score 20 or more came Dec. 19, 2015, vs. Iowa State when Wes Washpun scored 28 points and Paul Jesperson scored 21 points in an 81-79 victory over the Cyclones.
Active 20-Plus Point Scoring Games
Jeremy Morgan (9)Â
Bennett Koch (2)
Klint Carlson (1)
Hunter Rhodes (1)
PANTHERS MAKING SHOTS
UNI had its highest shooting percentage game of the season Sunday when the Panthers made 56.9 percent of their shots.Â
   UNI had not shot that well at home in the McLeod Center since last season's MVC opener vs. Bradley when the Panthers buried 58.7 percent of its shots in an 80-44 victory.Â
   UNI's 56.9 percent shooting is the highest shooting game for the Panthers since last season's 61.8 percent shooting game at Drake (2/6/16) - a span of 29 games.
BATTLING ON THE BOARDS
UNI won the rebounding battle vs. Drake, 31-27.Â
   It marked the first rebounding win for the Panthers since 32-29 advantage over Arizona State (11/17).
HALFTIME LEAD
UNI enjoyed a halftime lead over Drake, 45-25. It marked the first halftime lead for the Panthers since a 49-25 edge over South Dakota State (Dec. 7).
PLAYING FROM BEHIND
The Panthers had been playing from behind in their 0-5 league start, but UNI turned the tables Sunday vs. Drake by leading for 37:51.
   Prior to Sunday, UNI had led for a total of 6:05 in its first five league games this season. UNI led Wichita State for 4:41 and Loyola for 1:24.
MORGAN RANKS AMONG THE NATION'S BEST
Senior Jeremy Morgan, the preseason MVC player of the year, is the only player in the NCAA to average 10.0 points (16.9), 3.0 rebounds (6.6), 2.0 assists (3.1), 2.0 steals (2.3) and 1.0 blocks (1.4).
   No NCAA player in the past 10 seasons has done the following for a season: 15.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 2.0 apg, 2.0 spg, 1.5 blocks, 2.0 3FGM/g, and only one has done that stat line in the past 20 seasons (Shane Battier of Duke in 1999-00).
   Morgan leads UNI in scoring, rebounding, assists, steals, blocks, 3FGM, and FTM.
MORGAN NETS 1,000 POINTS
Jeremy Morgan became the 41st member of UNI's 1,000 point club at Evansville (1/1).
   Morgan has tallied 1,058 career points and ranks No. 32 on UNI's all-time scoring list.
UNI'S 1,000-POINT SCORERS SINCE 2001
Morgan became the 16th Panther to score 1,000 or more points since the start of the 2001 season – the first season that Ben Jacobson joined the coaching staff as an assistant. Jacobson took over the head job in the 2006-07 season.
1,000-Point Scorers Since 2001
Ben Jacobson (2003-06) 1,787 pts.
Seth Tuttle (2011-15) 1,747 pts.
Eric Coleman (2005-08) 1,522 pts.
Kwadzo Ahelegbe (2006-11) 1,329 pts.
Anthony James (2008-13) 1,305 pts.
Grant Stout (2004-07) 1,232 pts.
Deon Mitchell (2011-15) 1,200 pts.
Adam Koch (2006-10) 1,186 pts.
David Gruber (2002-04) 1,116 pts.
Jake Koch (2009-2013) 1,113 pts.
Matt Bohannon (2011-16.) 1,092 pts.
Jordan Eglseder (2006-10) 1,066 pts.
Jeremy Morgan (2013-pres.) 1,058 pts.
Johnny Moran (2008-12) 1,048 pts.
Wes Washpun (2013-16.) 1,035 pts.
Chris Foster (2000-05) 1,027 pts.
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. 3 at UNI in steals (164) and No. 8 in blocked shots (89).
   Morgan is looking to become only the second UNI player to tally 100 steals and 100 blocks in his career. The only previous Panther to achieve that feat was Jake Koch, who posted 118 steals and 123 blocks from 2009-2013.
STEALS - UNI (CAREER)
1.   Brent Carmichael (1981-83)   180
2.   Nick Nurse (1986-89)   165
3.   Jeremy Morgan (2013-pres.)   164
4.   Andy Woodley (1998-02)   159
5.   Ben Jacobson (2002-06)   154
6.   Johnny Moran (2008-12)   152
7.   Dale Turner (1988-92)   143
8.   Robbie Williams (1982-86)   140
9.   Brian Carpenter (1992-96)   138
10.   Darian DeVries (1994-98)   131
BLOCKED SHOTS - UNI (CAREER)
1.   Grant Stout (2004-0)   222
2.   Jake Koch (2009-13)   123
3.   Jordan Eglseder (2006-10)   120
4.   Sean Hawkins (1995-98)   118
5.   Eric Coleman (2004-08)   115
6.   Seth Tuttle (2011-15)   95
7.   Jason Sims (1993-96)   90
8.   Jeremy Morgan (2013-pres.)   89
9.   Scott Stafford (1984-85)   85
10.   Steve Phyfe (1988-90)   66
MORGAN KNOCKS DOWN TRIPLES TOO
Senior guard Jeremy Morgan can also knock down the three-point shot.Â
   Morgan has tallied 149 career three-pointers made to rank No. 9 all-time at UNI.Â
THREE-POINTERS MADE - UNI (CAREER)
1.   Matt Bohannon (2012-16)   268
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 Farohkmanesh (2008-10)   152
9.   Jeremy Morgan (2013-pres.)   149
10.   Maurice Newby (1987-91)   146
SPENCER SPARKS OFFENSE
Redshirt freshman Spencer Haldeman has recorded three straight double-figure scoring games and ranks second on the team in scoring at 9.3 points per game.Â
   Haldeman scored a team-high 16 points at Bradley and then followed it up with 10 points off the bench vs. Drake (1/15).Â
   Haldeman is tied for the team lead in three-pointers made (36).Â
   Haldeman has recorded eight double-digit scoring games, including a season-high 18 points at Wyoming (12/3).
TEDDY HITS THE BOARDSÂ
Junior center Ted Friedman leads the Panthers with 17 offensive rebounds.
SCORING TRENDS
UNI is 6-1 when scoring 70 or more points this season. UNI's only loss when scoring 70 or more came in an 81-73 loss at Wyoming.
   The Panthers are 0-10 when scoring less than 70 points.
FOR STARTERS
UNI has used eight different starting lineups this season in its 17 games.
   UNI has had nine different players draw starts this season.
UNI's 2016-17 Starting Lineups
Carlson-McCloud-Morgan-Koch-Lohaus (4)
Carlson-McCloud-Morgan-Koch-Ashton (4)
Carlson-Friedman-McCloud-Morgan-Ashton (1)
Friedman-McCloud-Morgan-Brown-Haldeman (2)
Carlson-Friedman-McCloud-Morgan-Haldeman (1)
Carlson-McCloud-Morgan-Koch-Haldeman (2)
Carlson-Morgan-Ashton-Koch-Haldeman (2)
Carlson-McCloud-Ashton-Koch-Haldeman (1)
WINNING TRADITION IN MCLEOD CENTER
UNI is 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 128-34 (.790) in games played in the McLeod Center.Â
   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
2007-08Â Â Â 11-6
2008-09Â Â Â 11-4
2009-10Â Â Â 14-0
2010-11Â Â Â 13-5
2011-12Â Â Â 13-3
2012-13Â Â Â 16-4
2013-14Â Â Â 11-2
2014-15Â Â Â 15-0
2015-16Â Â Â 11-3
2016-17Â Â Â 4-3Â
PROTECTING THE HOME COURT
UNI has won 11 or more home games in the McLeod Center in nine consecutive seasons.
COACH JAKE RANKS 6TH IN ALL-TIME MVC VICTORIES
UNI head coach Ben Jacobson has tallied 226 career wins to rank T-No. 6 in MVC history.
   Jacobson surpassed Rich Herrin (Southern Illinois), who tallied 225 career coaching victories.
MVC Coaching Victories
1. Â Â Â Henry Iba (Oklahoma State)Â Â Â 486
2. Â Â Â Eddie Hickey (Creighton/St. Louis)Â Â Â 337
3. Â Â Â Dana Altman (Creighton)Â Â Â 327
4.   Gregg Marshall (Wichita State)   245
5.   Barry Hinson (Missouri State/SIU)   242
6.   Ben Jacobson (UNI)   226
7.   Rich Herrin (Southern Illinois)   225
8.   Ralph Miller (Wichita State)   221
9.   Maury John (Drake)   211
10.   Joe Stowell (Bradley)   197
MVC Coaching Wins (Conf. Games Only)
1. Â Â Â Henry P. Iba (Oklahoma State) Â Â Â 187
2. Â Â Â Dana Altman (Creighton) Â Â Â 182
3. Â Â Â Eddie Hickey (Creighton/St. Louis) Â Â Â 163
5. Â Â Â Barry Hinson (Missouri State/SIU) Â Â Â 128
4. Â Â Â Dr. F.C. Allen (Kansas) Â Â Â 126
6.   Gregg Marshall (Wichita State)    122
7.   Ben Jacobson (UNI)    115
8. Â Â Â Rich Herrin (Southern Illinois) Â Â Â 111
9. Â Â Â Jim Molinari (Bradley) Â Â Â 110
10.   Maurice John (Drake)    95
3-POINT TALK
UNI has made at least one 3-pointer in 548 straight games – the longest active streak in the MVC.Â
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 previous 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.
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.Â
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.Â
TOP-FOUR FINISHES IN MVC
UNI has finished in the top four of the MVC standings in eight consecutive seasons.Â
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.Â
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.Â
   Wichita State has the second longest active streak at seven.Â
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)
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.Â
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
MVC's Dance Partners
Since the 2003-04 season, UNI and Wichita State have made the most appearances in the NCAA Tournament for the Missouri Valley Conference.
   The Panthers have made seven NCAA Tournament apperances since the 2003-04 season, while the Shockers have appeared in six NCAA tournaments in the same time frame.
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
20-WIN SEASONS
UNI has had 12 20-win seasons in program history – 10 of those 20-win seasons have come since 2003-04.Â
UNI MBB IN APR TOP-10 PERCENTÂ
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).Â
   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 LUNCHEONSÂ
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, YouTube and Instagram will have access to updates, score recaps and special announcements.
  Â
www.facebook.com/UNIAthleticsÂ
www.facebook.com/UNIMensBasketball
www.twitter.com/UNIAthletics
www.twittercom/UNIMBB
YOUTUBE
www.youtube.com/UNIAthletics
www.instagram.com/UNIAthletics
Players Mentioned
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/ Men's BasketballUNI Panther Football: The Best Pod of your Day (Episode 4)
Wednesday, September 17
UNI Football Highlights vs. Eastern Washington (Sept. 13, 2025)
Tuesday, September 16
UNI volleyball tops Iowa State at home
Friday, September 12
UNI Panther Football: The Best Pod of your Day (Episode 3)
Wednesday, September 10