University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
6-0,0-0MVC
Loyola-Chicago
1-6,0-0Atlantic 10
UNI men’s hoops roll past Rambers, 72-51
11/25/2025 5:30:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Panthers improve to 6-0 with a 21-point win over Loyola-Chicago. UNI takes on Tulsa on Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. CT.
PALM SPRINGS, Calif. --- The UNI men's basketball team led from start to finish on Tuesday night, cruising past the Loyola-Chicago Ramblers in a 72-51 win in its opening game of the Acrisure Holiday Invitational in southern California.
For a second consecutive game, Northern Iowa's three-point shooting put on a show in the first half while the defense held the Ramblers to just 32% shooting and an opponent-low 51 points this year.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Panthers led from the opening whistle of the first period to the halftime horn, jumping out a quick 12-1 lead thanks to a 7-0 scoring run and early trips to the free throw line. UNI's three-point shooting commenced with nine made triples in the first 20 minutes as early baskets by Leon Bond III and Max Weisbrod for a 15-4 advantage. Kyle Pock and Trey Campbell added on with buckets from beyond the arc for a 24-7 lead. Northern Iowa shot 57% in the opening frame and over 50% from three-point range as the Panthers maintained a double-digit lead, 45-26 into half time with Bond leading with 11 first half points and nine points from Pock.
UNI continued to cruise in the second half with Bond adding nine points to his total, while Ismaël Diouf, Campbell and Pock knocking down additional three-point baskets. Campbell led the Panthers with six rebounds in the final frame with the Northern Iowa defense holding the Ramblers to 25% shooting on 32 shot attempts. UNI also added three steals and blocks from Ben Schwieger and Chase Courbat recording blocks in the 21-point win.
Bond finished the afternoon with 20 points for his second 20+ point performance of the season, while Pock tied his career-high with four made three-pointers and 12 points and 11 points from Campbell with a season-best seven rebounds. Weisbrod tallied eight points with three boards as Diouf scored his first basket as a Panther while posting a team-high five assists. Tristan Smith posted 12 points with five rebounds as Will Hornseth and Ben Schwieger each pulled down three boards.
I liked that we were still aggressive on offense, said head coach Ben Jacobson. Leon has been playing really well at both ends of the floor. He's finding different spots and being aggressive and finding opportunities with confidence. Our quarter court defense has also been good. We really wanted the defense to set the tone today and it did.
ADDITIONAL NOTES
- UNI improves to 13-15 all-time against the Ramblers. Tuesday's game was the first time the Panthers have played Loyola-Chicago since the 2022 Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) Tournament and their first win over the Ramblers since the 2021-22 regular season finale that clinched the MVC's regular season title.
- The Panthers improve to 6-0 for the first time since winning the first nine games of the 2014-15 season and for only the second time in the Jacobson era (since 2006-07). It is also the fifth 6-0 start for UNI in the 1960-61 season.
- UNI outscored Loyola-Chicago by a 16-2 margin on turnovers, forcing 11 Rambler turnovers. The Panthers also recorded assists on 21 of their 25 made field goals.
- Northern Iowa's three turnovers on Tuesday were a season-low and fewest since turning the ball over three times against Missouri State on Feb. 10, 2016.
- Trey Campbell sits just eight points shy of becoming the latest member of UNI's 1,000 career point club.
UP NEXT
The Panthers return to action on Wednesday afternoon against Tulsa in their final game of the Acrisure Holiday Invitational at 3:30 p.m. CT. Live coverage of the game can be found on CBS Sports Network and the Panther Sports Radio Network (93.5 The Mix).
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.
