University of Northern Iowa
12-8,6-3MVC
Missouri State
7-13,0-9MVC
Anderson’s double-double paces UNI men’s basketball past Missouri State
1/21/2025 10:02:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Four Panthers score in double-digit figures in 11-point win over Bears. UNI visits Indiana State on Saturday afternoon.
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --- Tytan Anderson posted his second 20+ point game on Tuesday night with ten rebounds as the UNI men's basketball team bounced back from its road loss over the weekend to defeat the Missouri State Bears, 79-68 inside the McLeod Center in Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) action.
Recording its 11th game of the season with a team shooting clip of 50% or higher, Northern Iowa was able to draw 18 MSU fouls and shoot 22-of-29 from the free throw line, with its defense withstanding a barrage of three-point attempts from the Bears, holding on to move to 6-3 in league play.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Jacob Hutson would open the game with UNI's first six points in the paint as Cael Schmitt, in his first home game as a Panther, buried a pair of three-point baskets. Missouri State would jockey early for control of the lead as Zaxton King sank three triples for the Bears in the opening period, but UNI's interior game, led by Jacob Hutson and Will Hornseth with nine points each in the first 20 minutes. Northern Iowa would maintain a healthy lead through the first half on 50%, controlling the rebounding battle by a four board margin to take a 37-31 lead into halftime.
Anderson would take over for the Panthers in the second half at the free throw line and off the glass, scoring 19 points, including 11 at the charity stripe with eight rebounds. While the Bears continued their attack from three-point range, UNI's defense stepped up late to help turn turnovers into points, while Ben Schwieger knocked down a pair of three pointers to grow the Northern Iowa lead back to double digits. Drawing 12 fouls in the final frame, the Panthers were able to ice the game away in the final minutes, securing the 11-point victory.
Anderson finished the night with a game-high 21 points and ten rebounds for his second double-double of the season and 20th of his career. Huston finished with 16 points on five-of-11 shooting, as Hornseth tied his career-high with 12 points. Schmitt notched ten points on a perfect shooting night with three made baskets and two free throws, while Leon Bond III scored eight points and dished out a career-best five assists. Schwieger tallied six points and five boards, with Max Weisbrod scoring six points.
ADDITIONAL NOTES
- UNI's victory on Tuesday night was its fourth straight over Missouri State, who now leads the all-time series 46-43. It was also the final regular season conference game between the Panthers and Bears in Cedar Falls ahead of Missouri State's anticipated move to Conference USA this summer.
- Northern Iowa outscored the Bears by an 18-8 margin in turnovers.
- Tytan Anderson tied Robbie Williams (1982-86) for eighth on the program's all-time steals list with his 140th career steal on Tuesday.
- Anderson is now 12 assists away from joining Seth Tuttle (2011-15), Eric Coleman (2004-08) and Ron Lemons (1975-79) as the fourth player in team history to record 1,000 points, 700 rebounds and 200 assists in their UNI career.
- Ben Schwieger is 24 points away from scoring his 500th career point. The Aurora, Illinois native previously scored 290 points in his two seasons at Loyola-Chicago (2022-24).
UP NEXT
Northern Iowa hits the road on Saturday, Jan. 25 as they visit the reigning MVC regular season champion Indiana State Sycamores in Terre Haute. Tip-off is scheduled for 12 p.m. CT inside the Hulman Center, with live coverage available on ESPN+ and 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 2024-25 schedule and roster, along with the latest Panther news and information can be found online at UNIpanthers.com.
