University of Northern Iowa
3-3,0-0MVC
North Texas
6-1,0-0AAC
Panther men’s basketball outshot in NIT Season Tip-Off opener versus North Texas
11/28/2024 9:33:00 PM | Men's Basketball
UNI falls to Mean Green on Thanksgiving night, 68-48. Panthers to play St. Bonaventure tomorrow night in consolation game.
KISSIMMEE, Fla. --- UNI men's basketball came up short against the North Texas Mean Green as the Panthers opened up play at the NIT Season Tip-Off at State Farm Field House on the ESPN Wide World of Sports campus on Thanksgiving night, falling by a score of 68-48.
The Panthers were held to a 40.8% shooting clip against UNT's high-powered defense, and found difficulty in slowing the Mean Green's offense, which shot 50% from the field and nine-for-17 from three-point range. UNI also turned the ball over 15 times in the loss, including nine times in the second half.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Northern Iowa struggled offensively in the first half on just 34.6% shooting despite assists on seven of its nine made field goals. The Mean Green grabbed an early lead on the Panthers with made baskets on five of their first six attempts and maintained a 51.9% shooting clip through the first 20 minutes of play while also controlling the rebounding battle. Despite good looks on the floor not falling the Panthers' way early, Ben Schwieger shined in the first stanza with 11 points on five-of-13 shooting, including a pair of fastbreak dunks. With only one foul called against UNI in the entire first half, the Panthers went into the locker room trailing by double digits, 34-21.
UNI's offense improved in the second half on 47.8% shooting, but struggled to slow North Texas' three-point offense. Leon Bond III scored eight of the Panthers' 27 second period points, while Jacob Hutson added five points. UNT's defense stepped up however with seven steals in the final 20 minutes of action and slowed Northern Iowa's attempts to mount a large-scale comeback. UNI was able to cut the Mean Green's lead down to single digits after holding UNT without a field goal for nearly five minutes late in the game, but saw the Mean Green get into rhythm again late with an 11-0 scoring run in the final three minutes, 35 seconds.
Schwieger tied a season-high leading the Panthers with 13 points on six made field goals, while Bond posted eight points and tying his season-best with eight rebounds. Hutson also scored eight points, as Trey Campbell and RJ Taylor both tallying five points, which also saw Taylor match his season-high with three steals. Anderson pulled down six rebounds and posted a season-best four assists in the loss with Max Weisbrod, Will Hornseth and Kyle Pock all scoring one basket off the bench.
ADDITIONAL NOTES
- North Texas takes a 2-1 lead in the all-time series with Thursday's win. Both the Panthers and Mean Green last met in last season's regular season opener in Denton, which resulted in an overtime win for UNT.
- Northern Iowa is now 24-21 all-time in multi-team event (MTE) games under head coach Ben Jacobson. The Panthers previously won the 2019 Cancun Challenge in the Riviera Division, as well as the 2010 iBN Las Vegas Classic, 2011 South Padre Island Tournament and the 2015 Cancun Challenge.
- Leon Bond III recorded his 100th career rebound in Thursday's loss. His first 70 career boards came during his first two seasons playing at Virginia (2022-24).
UP NEXT
The Panthers will take on St. Bonaventure in the consolation game of the NIT Season Tip-Off on Friday. Opening tip is scheduled for 8 p.m. CT on ESPNU, with additional coverage available on the Panther Sports Radio Network.
UNI men's basketball action can be followed all season long on social media on Facebook (UNI Men's Basketball), X (@UNImbb) and on Instagram (@uni_basketball). The full 2024 schedule and roster, along with the latest Panther news and information can be found online at UNIpanthers.com.
