Panthers and Crusaders Set for Saturday Showdown

This Weeks Action:

Saturday, January 19 – Valparaiso, Indiana (Athletics-Recreation Center)
UNI vs Valparaiso 3 p.m.
ESPN3 | Audio | Stats

Full Game Notes

THE PANTHERS

• The Panthers move to 8-10 on the season at 3-2 in the MVC after defeating Indiana State in the McLeod Center on Wednesday, January 16.

• The Panthers take on the Crusaders of Valparaiso on Saturday on the road.

• Head Coach Ben Jacobson is 258-160 all-time, 2-0 against the Crusaders, and 1-0 in the Athletics-Recreation Center.

• UNI has made at least one 3-pointer in 612 straight games – the longest active streak in the Missouri Valley Conference.

• Spencer Haldeman put on a career performance against the Sycamores on Wed, Jan 16 setting career marks in points (21) and made field goals (7) while setting season highs in rebounds (6) and made three-pointers (4).

• Freshman AJ Green leads all Panthers in scoring, averaging 14.4 points per game.

• Sophomore Tywhon Pickford leads the Valley in free throw percentage (.923) after five games. Pickford went 10-10 from the line in the Panthers victory over Indiana State.

• The Panthers have given up the fewest points in MVC play, giving up only 58.6 points per game. The Panthers D gives up a full point less than Illinois State in second.

• The Panthers average 8.4 three-pointers per game in MVC play, second only to Drake (9.0).

• Four Panthers rank in the top 20 in made three-pointers per game in the MVC. Trae Berhow ranks 4th (2.4), AJ Green ranks 13th (1.6), Wyatt Lohaus ranks 14th (1.6) and Spencer Haldeman ranks 18th (1.4).

• The Panthers average only 9.4 turnovers per game in league play, the fewest of any Valley team this season and hold a 2.40 turnover margin ranking 3rd in the league.

• Luke McDonnell ranks 2nd in the league with 3.4 offensive rebounds per game in league play while Trae Berhow hauls in 5.6 defensive rebounds per game, ranking him 4th in that category.

• As a team, the Panthers average 34 rebounds a game while limiting their Valley opponents to just 31.4. The teams 2.6 rebounding margin in 3rd in the league.

THE CRUSADERS

• The Crusaders are 11-7 overall and off to a 4-1 start in Valley play. Valparaiso has victories over UNLV, George Washington, and an overtime victory over SIUE.

• Within Missouri Valley competition the Crusaders have defeated Illinois State, Missouri State, Bradley, and Southern Illinois with their only conference loss coming from Loyola.

• The Crusaders have four players averaging over ten points per game. Ryan Fazekas leads the team in scoring, averaging 12.7 points per game.

• As a team, the Crusaders average 71.4 points per game through eighteen games and average 64 points per game in Valley competition.

• Defensively the Crusaders surrender 60.8 points per game to Valley opponents.

• Valparaiso is second in the league in field goal percentage behind Loyola. With a .458 field goal percentage, the Crusaders will be the most accurate Valley team the Panthers have faced so far this season.

• Matt Lottich enters his sixth season overall at Valparaiso University and third season as head coach of the men's basketball program.

• Lottich led Valparaiso to 15 victories in his second season in charge in 2017-2018 and guided the Crusaders through the move to the Missouri Valley Conference, which ended the campaign ranked eighth nationally in conference RPI.

• In his first season at the helm of the Crusader men's basketball program, Lottich guided Valparaiso to its fifth Horizon League regular season championship in the last six years as he led the Crusaders to 24 wins and an at-large berth into the NIT.

• Lottich's inaugural season as head coach was highlighted by a home win over a nationally-ranked Rhode Island squad, as well as neutral-site wins over Alabama and BYU to

THE STREAK

UNI has made at least one 3-Pointer in 612 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.

MINE NOT YOURS

The Panthers have recorded 47 turnovers in league play, the fewest in the Valley this season.
1. UNI 47
2. Missouri State              49
3. Loyola 53

SHOOTERS

Four Panthers rank in the top 20 in made three-pointers per game in the MVC. Trae Berhow ranks 4th (2.4), AJ Green ranks 13th (1.6), Wyatt Lohaus ranks 14th (1.6) and Spencer Haldeman ranks 18th (1.4) Luke McDonnell has made 8 of his 16 three-point attempts in Valley play. His .500 three-point field goal percentage ranks 6th in the league.

TOP DEFENSE

The Panthers have given up the fewest points in league play. Four games in the Panthers surrender just 58.6 PPG.
1. UNI                                   58.6
2. Illinois State 59.6
3. Loyola 60.6
4. Valparaiso 60.8
5. Evansville 63.8

MVC GAMES THIS WEEKEND

Sat, Jan 19
UNI vs Valparaiso
Loyola vs Indiana State
Illinois State vs Evansville
Sun, Jan 20
Bradley vs Southern Illinois
Missouri State vs Drake

MVC STANDINGS

                            MVC    Overall
School W-L    W-L
Loyola                  4-1 11-7
Valparaiso 4-1 11-7
Illinois State 3-2 10-8
Evansville 3-2 9-9
UNI 3-2 8-10
Drake 2-3 13-5
Indiana State 2-3 10-7
Southern Ill. 2-3 9-9
Missouri State 2-3 8-10
Bradley 0-5 8-10

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Panthers and Crusaders Set for Saturday Showdown

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Players Mentioned

Trae Berhow

AJ Green

Spencer Haldeman

Wyatt Lohaus

Luke McDonnell

Tywhon Pickford

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