UNI men’s basketball: 2025-26 MVC schedule released

CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --- The UNI men's basketball team has rounded out its 2025-26 schedule on Thursday with the release of the 20-game Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) slate.

Tip times and TV designations for all MVC games will be announced at a later date. Additionally, UNI also announced tip times for its full non-conference schedule.

Northern Iowa, which will tip off its 125th anniversary season after being selected second in the MVC's annual preseason poll, will open league play on the road on Dec. 17 with an early conference game at UIC prior to its Dec. 22 non-conference finale at Saint Mary's. The bulk of MVC play will continue on Dec. 29 as the Panthers host Valparaiso, along with Indiana State on New Year's Day.

UNI will split its next four games between the McLeod Center and the road beginning Jan. 4 at Evansville, Belmont at home (Jan. 8), at Bradley on Jan. 10 and a home matchup with UIC on Jan. 13, followed by back-to-back road contests at Valparaiso (Jan. 17) and Illinois State (Jan. 21).

Murray State will visit Cedar Falls on Jan. 24 in the first of three home matchups in a four-game span, with a road trip to Southern Illinois set for Jan. 28, followed by home contests with Evansville (Jan. 31) and Bradley (Feb. 6). Following an extended road trip at Murray State (Feb. 9) and Belmont (Feb. 12), UNI will play host to in-state rival Drake on Feb. 15 before heading to Terre Haute to take on Indiana State (Feb. 18).

Two of Northern Iowa's final three games of the regular season will take place in the McLeod Center with Southern Illinois coming to town on Feb. 21 before Illinois State visits on Feb. 25. UNI will close out the 2025-26 regular season on Mar. 1 at Drake before tipping off postseason play at the 2026 MVC Men's Basketball Tournament, commonly known as "Arch Madness," in St. Louis from Mar. 5-8.

Season tickets for the 2025-26 Panther men's basketball season, as well as tickets for the Acrisure Holiday Invitational in California can be purchased online through the UNI Ticket Office, by calling 319-273-4849 or through email at tickets@uni.edu. Single game tickets will go on sale on Friday, Oct. 10.

Panther fans are also encouraged to join the program at the 2025-26 Panther Basketball Tip-Off Breakfast on Wednesday, Oct. 22 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Cedar Falls. More information about the event can be found HERE.

2025-26 UNI MEN'S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE

Nov. 1 vs. Upper Iowa (Exhibition) - 7 p.m. CT
Nov. 6 vs. Cal State Northridge - 7 p.m. CT
Nov. 9 vs. South Dakota State - 1 p.m. CT
Nov. 14 vs. Furman - 6 p.m. CT
Nov. 18 vs. Northern Illinois - 7 p.m. CT
Nov. 22 at UC Irvine - 9:30 p.m. CT
Nov. 25 vs. Loyola-Chicago (Acrisure Holiday Invitational / Palm Springs, Calif.) - 3 p.m. CT
Nov. 26 vs. San Jose State OR Tulsa (Acrisure Holiday Invitational / Palm Springs, Calif.) - TBA
Dec. 1 vs. Coe - 7 p.m. CT
Dec. 6 vs. Wichita State - 7 p.m. CT
Dec. 13 vs. Oakland - 5 p.m. CT
Dec. 17 at UIC * - TBA
Dec. 22 at Saint Mary's - 9 p.m. CT
Dec. 29 vs. Valparaiso * - TBA
Jan. 1 vs. Indiana State * - TBA
Jan. 4 at Evansville * - TBA
Jan. 7 vs. Belmont * - TBA
Jan. 10 at Bradley * - TBA
Jan. 13 vs. UIC * - TBA
Jan. 17 at Valparaiso * - TBA
Jan. 21 at Illinois State * - TBA
Jan. 24 vs. Murray State * - TBA
Jan. 28 at Southern Illinois * - TBA
Jan. 31 vs. Evansville * - TBA
Feb. 6 vs. Bradley * - TBA
Feb. 9 at Murray State * - TBA
Feb. 12 at Belmont * - TBA
Feb. 15 vs. Drake * - TBA
Feb. 18 at Indiana State - TBA
Feb. 21 vs. Southern Illinois * - TBA
Feb. 25 vs. Illinois State * - TBA
Mar. 1 at Drake * - TBA
Mar. 5-8 - Arch Madness (St. Louis, Mo.) - TBA

Home games in BOLD
* MVC contest

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 2025-26 schedule and roster, along with the latest Panther news and information can be found online at UNIpanthers.com.

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