Men's Basketball to Host Grand Canyon

This Weeks Action

Wednesday, December 19 – Cedar Falls, IA (McLeod Center)
UNI vs. Grand Canyon University 7:30 p.m. | ESPN+ | Audio | Stats

Full Game Notes
MVC Notes

THE PANTHERS

• The Panthers move to 4-6 on the season after falling to the #22 Iowa Hawkeyes in the Hy-Vee Classic.

• The Panthers get a few days to prepare for the 5-5 Antelopes of Grand Canyon University, the Panthers and Antelopes take the court on Wednesday, December 19 at 7:30 p.m.

• The Panthers and Antelopes have never played, marking the first game in the series history.

• UNI has made at least one 3-Pointer in 604 straight games – the longest active streak in the Missouri Valley Conference.

• Miles Wentzien has started the year 13-14 at the line, his 92.9% mark ranks 5th in the MVC. Making 86.2% of his shots from the line, AJ Green is tenth in the MVC and third with players with over 20 free throw attempts (ranking 78th in the NCAA).

• As a team the Panthers rank first in the league in free throw percentage, making 74% of their shots from the line. The teams also rank fifth in the MVC in total three throws made with 142.

• The Panthers are heavy on three-point shooting this season, trailing only Illinois State in three-pointers attempted, the Panthers have attempted 263 shots from beyond the arc, and are fourth in made three-pointers with 77. The teams 7.7 three-pointers per game ranks 4th in the MVC.

• While AJ Green leads the Panthers with 21 made three-pointers, Luke McDonnell leads the Panthers in three-point field goal percentage, making 5 of 10 from distance, McDonnell ranks 5th in the MVC with a .500 mark.

• Sophomore Trae Berhow continues to rebound for the Panthers, with 63 total rebounds this season Berhow ranks 7th in the MVC while his 5.6 defensive rebounds per game ranks 5th in the league.

• The Panthers have rebounded well as a team, hauling in 352 total boards, sixth most in the MVC, while the Panthers 26.9 defensive rebounds per game ranks fourth in the league.

THE ANTELOPES

• The Antelopes of Grand Canyon University sit a 5-5 this season, coming off a 98-60 loss to Texas last Saturday. The Antelopes won four if their first five games before dropping four of their last six.

• The Antelopes have four players that overage over 10 points per game. The Antelope offense is highlighted by sophomore center Alessandro Lever. The 6-10 center is averaging 12.4 points per game. Lever dropped 20 points in the Antelopes loss to Seton Hall in the Wooden Legacy Tournament.

• The Antelopes also sport three dangerous guards in Carlos Johnson, Trey Dreschal, and Damari Milstead who all average over 10 points per game and spread the ball around.

• Grand Canyon is coached by Dan Majerle, a former NBA All-Star and Olympian, who enters his sixth season at the helm of GCU men's basketball team in 2018-19 after taking over the program on March 18, 2013, as the 13th head coach in Lopes history.

• It has been quite an impressive run in the Valley for the former Phoenix Suns star, broadcaster and assistant coach. In five years at GCU, Majerle has amassed 103 wins and four postseason berths on the sideline. His teams have posted the 22nd-best winning percentage (.717) in Division I over the past three seasons. In 2017-18, the Lopes came within one win of an NCAA tournament berth in their first season of full Division I postseason eligibility.

• Majerle has made his mark with teams that have won at least 22 games in each of the past three seasons and five top-three finishes in the WAC. Majerle also has attracted many high-profile opponents during his tenure, including Kentucky, Duke, Arizona, Nevada and a home-and-home series with Louisville.

• Majerle played 14 seasons in the NBA and averaged 11.4 points over 955 career games. He made three All-Star appearances and was named to the 1990-91 and 1992-93 All-Defensive second team.

THE STREAK

UNI has made at least one 3-Pointer in 604 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.

MVC GAMES THIS WEEK

Mon, Dec 17
Ball State vs Valparaiso
SIU Edwardsville vs Drake
Tues, Dec 18
Bradley vs Georgia Southern
Missouri State vs Arkansas State
Benedictine vs Loyola
Evansville vs Murray State
Wed, Dec 19
Valparaiso vs Texas A&M
Rider vs Drake
Grand Canyon vs UNI
Fri, Dec 21
Illinois State vs UCF
Sat, Dec 22
Southeastern Louisiana vs Bradley
UAPB vs Missouri State
North Dakota vs UNI
Colorado vs Indiana State
Winthrop vs Southern Illinois
Saint Joseph's vs Loyola
Green Bay vs Evansville
New Mexico State vs Drake

MVC STANDINGS
                                MVC             Overall
School                     W-L                W-L
Drake                        0-0                 6-2
Indiana State            0-0                6-3
Bradley                     0-0 7-4
Valparaiso                0-0 6-4
Illinois State             0-0 7-5
Southern Illinois       0-0 7-5
Loyola                    0-0 6-5
Evansville                0-0 5-5
Missouri State          0-0 4-6
UNI                          0-0 4-6

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Players Mentioned

Trae Berhow

AJ Green

Luke McDonnell

Miles Wentzien

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