University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
UIC
Panther men’s basketball set to open Valley play on Wednesday night at UIC
12/2/2024 1:21:00 PM | Men's Basketball
UNI gets its first early conference test against the Flames in Chicago on Wednesday.
UNI men's basketball (3-4 / 0-0 MVC) at UIC (4-3 / 0-0 MVC)
- 7 p.m. CT | Chicago, Ill.
- State Farm Field House (9,500)
- ESPN+ (Sam Brief: Play-by-Play / Chris Sparks: Analyst)
- Panther Sports Radio Network (J.W. Cox: Play-by-Play)
- LIVE STATS
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --- The UNI men's basketball team will get an early Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) test as it opens league play on Wednesday night in the Windy City against the UIC Flames.
Tip-off at Credit Union 1 Arena in Chicago is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT with live coverage available on ESPN+, as well as the Panther Sports Radio Network with J.W. Cox on the call.
The Panthers hold a narrow 13-12 record all-time against the Flames and are 2-1 against UIC since it joined the MVC in 2022-23. UNI came up short in its last matchup with UIC last February in Chicago by a score of 78-72. Northern Iowa will also be in search of its first win in its MVC opener since beating Bradley on the road to open the 2018-19 conference schedule.
UNI returns to action after dropping a pair of contests over the Thanksgiving holiday in Florida at the NIT Season Tip-Off to North Texas and St. Bonaventure. In the Panthers' matchup with the Mean Green on Thanksgiving night, Ben Schwieger led the purple and gold with a season-high 13 points, while Leon Bond III, who was named to the event's All-Tournament Team, scored eight points with eight rebounds. Against the Bonnies, Tytan Anderson posted a strong second half to finish with 14 points, as Kyle Pock scored 11 points off the bench, including three baskets from three-point range.
Through seven games, Anderson leads the Panthers with 12.4 points and 5.9 rebounds per game on 56.1% shooting, while Jacob Hutson has notched 11.1 points and 4.4 rebounds a game. Schwieger has posted 9.6 points with a team-high 11 assists off the bench in his first season as a Panther, with RJ Taylor posting 9.6 points and 17 assists. Trey Campbell leads UNI with 19 assists on the season, plus 7.3 points a game.
SCOUTING UIC
The Flames have captured wins in four of their first seven games this season, falling to East Carolina in their last matchup at the Boardwalk Battle in Florida last week, 72-55. UIC hosted Division III Aurora on Saturday, grabbing a 91-76 exhibition win.
Under the leadership of first-year head coach Robert Ehsan, the Flames were picked 12th in this year's MVC preseason poll, with senior forward Filip Skobalj earning Preseason Third Team All-MVC honors.
The Flames lead the Valley and rank seventh nationally with 20.6 assists per game. UIC also leads the league in scoring offense with 87 points a game and rebounding margin (8.4).
Sasa Ciani leads the Flames with 12.3 points per game and three double-doubles on the year, along with nine rebounds a game. Ahmad Henderson II has scored 12 points per game, while Jovan Jackson, Tyem Jackson and Skobalj are all averaging over ten points a game.
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.
