University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
Upper Iowa (Exhibition)
UNI men’s basketball hosts Upper Iowa in preseason exhibition
10/30/2025 10:33:00 AM | Men's Basketball
UNI men's basketball (0-0 / 0-0 MVC) vs. Upper Iowa (0-0 / 0-0 GLVC) [EXHIBITION]
- 7 p.m. CT
- Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025
- Cedar Falls, Iowa | McLeod Center (6,650)
- WATCH (ESPN+) [Eric Bradley: Play-by-Play / Kevin Lehman: Analyst]
- LIVE RESULTS
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --- Fans will get their first opportunity to see the 2025-26 UNI men's basketball team in action on Saturday night as the Panthers welcome the Division II Upper Iowa Peacocks to the McLeod Center for a preseason exhibition.
The game is free and open to the public with live coverage available on ESPN+ with Eric Braley and Kevin Lehman on the call.
Single-game and season tickets for the 2025-26 men's basketball regular season can be purchased online through the UNI Ticket Office, by calling 319-273-4849 or through email at tickets@uni.edu.
Northern Iowa, who begins its 125th anniversary season next week with its regular season opener on Nov. 6 against Cal State Northridge, is coming off a 20-13 campaign last season, a third-place finish in the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) standings and the program's third appearance in the National Invitation Tournament (NIT). The Panthers last season notably ranked 15th in Division I with a 48.7% field goal clip, while also boasting the MVC's second-best scoring defense (67.4 points allowed per game).
The Panthers were picked to finish second in this year's MVC preseason poll with eight first-place votes, second behind Illinois State. Four UNI players were also named to the league's preseason watchlist in Leon Bond III, Trey Campbell, Ben Schwieger and RJ Taylor.
2025-26 MVC Men's Basketball Preseason Poll (Top-Five)
- Illinois State [34] ….. 487
- UNI [8] ….. 442
- Murray State [4] ….. 385
- Bradley ….. 370
- Belmont ….. 344
UNI also begins the season ranked 11th in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major preseason top-25 rankings, one of seven MVC schools to be either ranked or receiving votes.
Northern Iowa returns 11 players from last year's roster, tied for third-most in Division I behind only Navy (18) and Purdue (12), as well as a Division I-best 72.1% of its minutes played.
In the offseason, the Panthers added three signees out of the transfer portal in Tristan Smith (Concordia-NE), Ismaël Diouf (North Carolina State) and Marino Dubravcic (Baylor), as well as three freshmen in Geon Hutchins, Jalen Wilson and Levi Valdo.
Head coach Ben Jacobson kicks off his 20th season leading the Panthers with 374 career wins, second-most in the 119-year history of the MVC behind only Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame coach Henry P. Iba. Jacobson's 209 conference wins are the most in the league's history.
SCOUTING UPPER IOWA
The Peacocks begin their first season under new head coach Casey Kasperbauer, succeeding former UNI guard Brooks McKowen (2003-07) who departed to coach at Missouri Western State.
Upper Iowa went 21-9 overall and 14-6 in the Great Lakes Valley Conference (GLVC) last season, falling to Missouri-St. Louis in the second round of the GLVC Tournament.
Picked 11th in the GLVC preseason poll, the Peacocks return forward Kyle Hrncir after leading the team in points (12.4), rebounds (7.5), minutes (33.4) and assists (2.8) per game last year.
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). Schedule and roster information, along with the latest Panther news and information can be found online at UNIpanthers.com.
