Panthers Set for Mid-Week Match-up With Valparaiso

WEDNESDAY'S ACTION:

UNI vs Valparaiso | Wednesday, February 5 | 7 PM | ARC | Valparaiso, Indiana

THE SERIES
The Panthers and Crusaders meet for 30th time in program history on Wednesday night. The series has been dominated by the Panthers with a 26-3 all-time mark. Head coach Ben Jacobson is 4-1 against Valparaiso, defeating the MVC rival 88-78 on January 15 inside the McLeod Center. Jacobson is 3-0 all-time in the McLeod Center against the Crusaders and holds a 1-1 record on the road.

THE PANTHERS
• Jacobson is now tied with Barry Hinson with 285 career wins, ranking 4th all-time for a MVC coach.

•The Panthers are a perfect 12-0 inside the McLeod Center this season. The Panthers have finished undefeated in the McLeod Center twice, the 2009-10 and the 2014-15 seasons.

• The Panthers are now 59-6 when scoring 80+ points under Ben Jacobson, and are 10-0 in contest scoring over 80 points this season.

• UNI has made at least one 3-Pointer in 649 straight games – the longest active streak in the Missouri Valley Conference.

• AJ Green made 44 consecutive free throws (Dec 22-Jan 22), breaking the UNI record of 32 straight set by Bill McCoy. Green's 44 consecutive made free throws is tied 6th best in MVC history.

• The Panthers have made 48.9% from the field this season, a mark that ranks 2nd in the MVC and 8th in the NCAA.

• Making 76.9% at the free-throw line the Panthers lead the MVC.

• Averaging 12.9 turnovers per game the Panthers trail only Indiana State (11.8) for fewest turnovers per game.

• UNI is averaging 76.9 PPG in Valley play, leading the league in scoring through 10 games.

• AJ Green has averaged 22.7 PPG against Valley opponents, leading the league.

• Austin Phyfe has hauled in 8.1 RPG in league play, trailing only Loyola's Cameron Krutwig (8.6) in league play.

THE CRUSADERS
• Matt Lottich (66-55) is in his seventh season overall at Valpo and fourth as head coach in 2019-20. Lottich led the team to 15 victories in his third season in charge in 2018-19, the program's second campaign in the Missouri Valley Conference.

• Valpo has had the same player hold outright team leader in points, rebounds, and assists. Javon Freeman- Liberty became the first Valpo player to accomplish that feat all season on Jan. 29 at Bradley, turning in a 21-point, seven-rebound, four-assist effort.

• Valpo outscored Illinois State 36-13 in bench points on Feb. 1, a 23-point surplus in that area that marked Valpo's largest of the season against a Division-I opponent.

• Donovan Clay continued to find success in conference home games on Feb. 1 vs. Illinois State, reaching double figures for the fourth time in five MVC contests at the ARC.

• Valpo reached the 80-point threshold for the sixth time this season in the 80-70 win over Illinois State on Feb. 1. Valpo improved to 6-0 this year and 28-2 under Matt Lottich when scoring 80+ points.

• Valpo has not lost back-to-back games or won back-to-back games in Valley play through the first 10 contests, with the Brown & Gold consistently bouncing back and forth between a game under .500 and exact breakeven mark in league play.

• Valpo improved to 8-1 at home with the Feb. 1 victory over Illinois State. Valpo hasn't finished with a losing mark at the ARC since 1991-92, extending the streak to 28 seasons this year.

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