UNI Opens MVC Play Thursday vs SIU

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Southern Illinois (8-5) at UNI (8-4)
Thurs., Dec. 28, 2017 • 7 p.m.
Cedar Falls, Iowa (McLeod Center)

ESPN3 | AUDIO | STATS

TICKETS
Fans can purchase single-game tickets to UNI men's basketball home games through UNITIX.
   Call 319-273-4849 or visit www.unipanthers.com/tickets.

BROADCAST INFORMATION
Television
Panther Sports TV Network/ESPN3
Play-by-Play: Eric Braley
Analyst: Kevin Lehman
Clearances: Cedar Falls Utilities Ch. 15/HD415, KCRG Ch. 9.2, WHO 13 D-2, KGCW Ch. 26, NBC Sports Chicago+, KSMO - Kansas City.

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

Stats
UNI.Statbroadcast.com

SERIES NOTES
All-Times Series: SIU leads, 32-30
Last Meeting: UNI 49, SIU 41 (Feb. 8, 2017)
UNI has won four straight meetings, including a sweep of the series last season.

UNI MEN'S BASKETBALL STORYLINES VS. SOUTHERN ILLINOIS
• The University of Northern Iowa men's basketball team (8-4 overall) will open its Missouri Valley Conference schedule at home Thursday vs. the Southern Illinois Salukis (8-5 overall). Tip is set for 7 p.m. in the McLeod Center.

• UNI has played the second-toughest schedule in nation during its non-conference play. UNI's opponents have combined for a record of 79-33 (.705).

• Thursday's MVC opener for both Southern Illinois and UNI will feature the two active most-winningest Missouri Valley Coaches in Barry Hinson (256 wins) and Ben Jacobson (242).

• Senior Bennett Koch leads the Panthers in scoring (15.1 ppg), field goal% (59.2%) and free throw% (80.8%) through their first 12 games.

• Freshman Tywhon Pickford (6'4") is the nation's top rebounder under 6'5". Pickford ranks No. 7 in the nation among all freshmen rebounders. Pickford is averaging 9.3 rebounds per game.

• Sophomore Juwan McCloud leads the squad in assists (28) and steals (16). McCloud has registered at least one steal in 11 consecutive games heading into the Thursday's game vs. Southern Illinois.

UNI MEN'S BASKETBALL NOTES VS. SOUTHERN ILLINOIS

SOUTHERN ILLINOIS SALUKIS
Southern Illinois has won four of its last five games entering Thursday's game vs. UNI.
   The Salukis began the season with a road victory at Winthrop, but have dropped their next three road contests to fall to 1-3 on the road. The Salukis are 6-1 at home.
   SIU has four players averaging double-figure scoring in Sean Lloyd (13.1 ppg), Armon Fletcher (13.1 ppg), Kavion Pippen (12.1 ppg) and Aaron Cook (10.1 ppg).

ALL-TIME SERIES VS. SIU
Southern Illinois holds a 32-30 lead in the all-time series vs. UNI.
   The Panthers have won the last four meetings, including a season sweep of the Salukis last season.
   UNI head coach Ben Jacobson is 18-7 against Southern Illinois. Jacobson is 11-0 vs. the Salukis in the McLeod Center.

TOUGH PLACE TO PLAY FOR SIU
Southern Illinois has suffered a defeat in 14 consecutive trips to Cedar Falls.
   SIU is 0-11 in the McLeod Center and has not posted a win in Cedar Falls since an 88-78 overtime win in the UNI-Dome on Jan. 22, 2003.
   SIU is 7-21 in 28 games that the Salukis have played in Cedar Falls. SIU's seven wins came in the 1965-66, 1968-69, 1993-94, 1994-95, 1997-98, 2000-01, 2002-03 seasons.

RESUME BUILDING
UNI is built a strong resume during its non-conference play with a mark of 8-4.
   The Panthers posted wins over SMU (61-58), North Carolina State (64-60), UNLV (77-68 OT) and UT Arlington (62-58).

SECOND-TOUGHEST SCHEDULE
UNI has played the second-toughest schedule in nation during its non-conference play. UNI's opponents have combined for a record of 79-33 (.705).
   Texas Southern ranks No. 1 with its opponents' record of 110-37 (.748).

MATCHUP OF TWO ACTIVE MOST-
WINNINGEST MVC COACHES
Thursday's MVC opener for both Southern Illinois and UNI will feature the two active most-winningest Missouri Valley Coaches in Barry Hinson (256 wins) and Ben Jacobson (242).
   Hinson ranks No. 5, while Jacobson ranks No. 6 in MVC coaching victories.
   Hinson ranks No. 4 with 134 MVC wins only. Jacobson ranks No. 7 in league history in MVC games only with 123 wins.
   Henry Iba tops both lists with 486 total wins and 187 league wins.

MVC Coaching Victories
1.    Henry P. Iba (Oklahoma State)   486
2.    Eddie Hickey (Creighton/St. Louis)   337
3.    Dana Altman (Creighton)   327
4.   Gregg Marshall (Wichita State)   261
5.   Barry Hinson (Missouri State/SIU)   256
6.   Ben Jacobson (UNI)   242
7.   Rich Herrin (Southern Illinois)   225
8.   Ralph Miller (Wichita State)   220
9.   Maury John (Drake)   211
10.   Joe Stowell (Bradley)   197

MVC Coaching Wins (Conf. Games Only)
1.    Henry P. Iba (Oklahoma State)    187
2.    Dana Altman (Creighton)    182
3.    Eddie Hickey (Creighton/St. Louis)    163
4.   Barry Hinson (Missouri State/SIU)    134
   Gregg Marshall (Wichita State)    134
6.    Dr. F.C. Allen (Kansas)    126
7.   Ben Jacobson (UNI)    123
8.    Rich Herrin (Southern Illinois)    111
9.    Jim Molinari (Bradley)    110
10.   Maurice John (Drake)    95

TOP-FOUR FINISHES IN MVC
UNI extended its streak of top-four finishes in the Missouri Valley Conference to a ninth straight season with its third-place finish in 2016-17.

IN THE UPPER HALF
UNI recorded its 14th straight upper-half finish Missouri Valley Conference.
   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.

14 STRAIGHT YEARS OF 9 OR MORE MVC WINS
UNI also extended its streak of nine or more MVC victories in a season to 14 straight years. It is the longest active streak in the league.
   Wichita State has the second-longest active streak at eight.

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)
2016-17 - 9-9 (T-3rd)

MVC OPENERS UNDER JAKE
UNI has posted a 5-6 mark, including a 3-3 record at home, in Missouri Valley Conference openers under 12th-year head coach Ben Jacobson.

UNI's MVC Openers for Coach Jacobson
2006-07   W, 76-65 vs. Bradley
2007-08   W, 59-46 at Bradley
2008-09   L, 85-84 (2ot) vs. Indiana State
2009-10   W, 60-52 at Creighton
2010-11   L, 58-57 vs. Missouri State
2011-12   L, 65-61 at Illinois State
2012-13   L, 66-41 at Wichita State
2013-14   W, 80-46 vs. Bradley
2014-15   L, 52-49 at Evansville
2015-16   W, 80-44 vs. Bradley
2016-17   L, 68-64 vs. Missouri State

NO. 8 IN SCORING DEFENSE
UNI ranks No. 8 in the nation in scoring defense. The Panthers are giving up 60.5 points per game.

Rk.   Team   Points Allowed/Game
1.   Virginia   52.3
2.    Miami (Fla.)   56.4
3.   Texas Tech   58.7
4.   Grand Canyon   59.2
5.   Rutgers   59.5
6.   Cincinnati   60.0
7.   Texas   60.4
8.   UNI   60.5
9.   Mississippi St.   60.8
10.   Bradley   60.9

NO. 10 IN FEWEST FOULS
UNI is ranked No. 10 in the nation in fewest fouls per game (14.8).

Rk.   Team   Personal Fouls/Game
1.   Elon   12.8
2.   Notre Dame   13.0
3.   George Washington   13.3
4.   Western Illinois   14.1
5.   Mississippi St.   14.3
6.   Southern Miss.   14.5
7.   Michigan   14.6
8.   Creighton   14.7
9.   Loyola (Chicago)   14.7
10.   UNI   14.8

NO. 13 IN FG% DEFENSE
UNI is ranked No. 13 in the nation in field goal percentage defense (37.5).

PANTHERS IN THE NCAA RPI
The Panthers were ranked No. 32 in Saturday's NCAA RPI release.

ONE OR LESS TRUE ROAD GAMES IN NON-CONFERENCE PLAY
UNI is one of 38 teams with zero or 1 true road game in non-conference schedule. The Panthers are 1 of 12 teams not in the Power 5 - a list that also includes St. John's, Butler, SMU, Marquette, Memphis, VCU, Georgetown, Hawaii, UTEP, Duquesne and East Carolina.
   UNI played only one true road game (at North Carolina) during the 2017-18 non-conference schedule.

9 HOME WINS IN 11 STRAIGHT YRS
UNI has won nine or more home games in the McLeod Center in 11 consecutive seasons.
   UNI will play 16 home games during the 2017-18 season - the most regular season home games since the 2007-08 season when the Panthers had 17 on the slate.

UNI's Home Record Since 2006-07
Year   Record
2006-07   9-4
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   9-4
2017-18   6-1

MCLEOD CENTER
UNI is playing its 12th 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 139-36 (.794) 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.

KOCH GOES AT A HIGH LEVEL
Senior Bennett Koch leads the Panthers in scoring (15.1 ppg), field goal% (59.2%) and free throw% (80.8%) through their first 12 games.
   Koch ranks second on the squad in rebounding (7.4 rpg).
   Koch poured in 26 points on 8-of-12 shooting from the field and 10-of-12 at the foul line vs. No. 9-ranked Xavier.

Active 20-Plus Point Scoring Games
Bennett Koch (7)
Klint Carlson (3)
Hunter Rhodes (1)

NATION'S BEST REBOUNDER
UNDER 6'5"
UNI freshman guard Tywhon Pickford is the nation's top rebounder under 6'5". Pickford (6'4") is averaging 9.3 rebounds per game.
   Drexel's Tramaine Isabell (6'1") is the nation's next best rebounder under 6'5". Isabell is averaging 8.1 rebounds per contest.

FRESHMEN REBOUNDERS
UNI's Tywhon Pickford ranks No. 7 in the nation in rebounds among freshmen at 9.3 per game.

Freshman Rebounders
1.    Deandre Ayton (Arizona)   11.4
2.   Brandon McCoy (UNLV)   10.9
3.   Marvin Bagley III (Duke)   10.9
4.   Eric Williams Jr. (Duquesne)   10.2
5.   Oshae Brissett (Syracuse)   9.8
6.   Mohamed Bamba (Texas)   9.8
7.   Tywhon Pickford (UNI)   9.3

PICKFORD TO THE GLASS
Pickford ranks second in the Missouri Valley Conference in rebounding (9.3 rpg). He ranks fifth in the MVC in offensive rebounds (29).
   Pickford has reached double figures in rebounds in six times this season.
   Pickford ranks fourth on the team in scoring at 8.9 points per game.

RARE CLASS OF STATS
Pickford is looking to become the first UNI Panther to average double-figure rebounds for a season since Joe Breakenridge averaged 10.5 rebounds per game in the 2000-2001 season.
   Prior to Breakenridge averaging double figures in rebounds you have to go all the way back to the 1975-1976 season which saw Mark Enright average 10.5 rebounds per game for the Panthers.

MCCLOUD SOARS
UNI sophomore point guard Juwan McCloud leads the squad in assists (28) and steals (16).
   McCloud has registered at least one steal in 11 consecutive games heading into the Thursday's game vs. Southern Illinois.
   McCloud ranks second on the team in scoring at 10.0 points per game.
   McCloud has reached double-figure scoring six times this season. Last year, McCloud had four double-figure scoring games as a true freshman.
   McCloud has drained 16 three-pointers this season after making nine three-pointers during the 2016-17 season.

TWO SPARKS OFF THE BENCH
UNI is getting a pair of scoring bursts off the bench from junior Wyatt Lohaus and sophomore Spencer Haldeman.
   Lohaus is scoring 9.5 points per game, while Haldeman is averaging 8.3 points per game.
   Lohaus ranks second and Haldeman ranks third among MVC players in scoring without making a start this season.
   Missouri State's Reggie Scurry is averaging 10.0 points per game and has not started a game this year.

HALDEMAN ZONES IN
UNI sophomore guard Spencer Haldeman is draining 50 percent of his three-point shots this season.
   Haldeman has drained a 25-of-50 from three-point range.
UNI sophomore guard Spencer Haldeman is the leading bench scorer for the Panthers.

COUNTLESS 3-POINT BOMBERS
Through 12 games, UNI has five players who have made at least 13 3-pointers this season.
   Spencer Haldeman (25), Juwan McCloud (16), Isaiah Brown (15), Klint Carlson (14) and Tywhon Pickford (13) have all made at least 13 shots from 3-point land this season.
   UNI is averaging 8.4 made 3-pointers per game.

UNI'S 3-POINT STREAK
UNI has made at least one 3-pointer in 573 straight games – the longest active streak in the Missouri Valley Conference. It also ranks as the 32nd-longest active streak among all NCAA Division I teams.
   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.

EIGHT NCAA TRIPS FOR UNI
UNI made its eighth appearance in the NCAA Tournament in 2016. 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 TOURNEY SINCE 2004
The Panthers have made seven NCAA appearances since the 2004 season. Only 27 other teams have made more than seven NCAA Tournament appearances since 2004.
   That is the most NCAA Tournament apperance since 2004 for any current member of the MVC. New MVC member Valparaiso has made three NCAA Tournaments in that same time frame (2004, 2013, 2015).

Current MVC NCAA Appearances Since 2004
UNI (7) - 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2016
Southern Illinois (4) - 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007
Valparaiso (3) - 2004, 2013, 2015
Indiana State (1) - 2011
Drake (1) - 2008
Bradley (1) - 2006

PANTHERS PICKED SECOND IN MVC PRESEASON POLL
UNI has been slotted to finish second in the preseason 2017-18 Missouri Valley Conference poll.
   UNI received eight first-place votes in the preseason poll. It is the most preseason first-place votes in a year that the Panthers were not picked as the preseason favorites.

MVC Preseason Poll
School (First-Place Votes) Total
1.   Missouri State (30)   381
2.   UNI (8)       337
3.   Loyola (1)       321
4.   Illinois State (1)       256
5.   Southern Illinois       226
6.   Valparaiso       214
7.   Bradley       182
8.   Indiana State       116
9.   Evansville       88
10.   Drake       79

KOCH, CARLSON EARN ALL-MVC PRESEASON HONORS
University of Northern Iowa seniors Bennett Koch and Klint Carlson have been named to the Preseason All-Missouri Valley Conference teams.
   Koch earned first-team all-MVC honors, while Carlson was selected to the second team.
   Koch is UNI's top returning scorer at 11.0 points per game. In his last 14 games last season, Koch averaged a team-best 14.3 points and 5.6 rebounds in 24.9 minutes per game.
   Carlson averaged more points per game for the third consecutive season (8.3 ppg). He ranked No. 4 in the league at 36.6 minutes per game.

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 p.m., live from The Other Place in Cedar Falls.

UNI INKS TOP-100 RECRUIT GREEN
University of Northern Iowa head men's basketball coach Ben Jacobson has announced the signing of consensus top-100 recruit A.J. Green to a National Letter-of-Intent to play for the Panthers beginning in the 2018-19 season.
   Green (6'4", 175 lbs., Guard – Cedar Falls, Iowa/Cedar Falls HS) is ranked among the top-100 recruits by ESPN (No. 74), 247 (No. 77), Scout (No. 77) and Rivals (No. 88). He is a four-star recruit and a first-team all-state pick by the Iowa Newspaper Association in both 2016 and 2017.
   "A.J. has a tremendous work ethic and drive to be the absolute best. It has been a lot of fun watching him work and grow as player over the course of all these years," Jacobson said. "In A.J., we are getting a player who knows our program, comes in with lofty goals and has made himself one of the best players in the country. Most importantly we are getting a terrific young guy. This is an exciting day for our basketball family and for Panther Nation as A.J. officially becomes a Panther."
   Green has scored 1,120 points entering his senior season at Cedar Falls High School. Green averaged 21.5 points per game and grabbed 4.2 rebounds per game, while he shot 47.4 percent from the floor (43.4 – 3-point range) as a junior. He averaged 17.8 points per game and made 44 percent of his three-point shots as a sophomore. Green scored 186 points and averaged 8.0 points per game as a freshman.
   Green played AAU basketball for the Iowa Barnstormers. He is the son of Kyle and Michele Green.

WEEKLY PRESS CONFERENCE
UNI head coach Ben Jacobson or a member of his coaching staff will be available at the weekly press conference held each Monday at noon in the McLeod Center's Alumni Suite.

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

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UNI Opens MVC Play Thursday vs SIU

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Players Mentioned

Isaiah Brown

Klint Carlson

Spencer Haldeman

Bennett Koch

Wyatt Lohaus

Juwan McCloud

Tywhon Pickford

Hunter Rhodes

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