University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
Valparaiso
Panther men’s basketball returns to league play hosting Beacons
12/28/2025 12:22:00 PM | Men's Basketball
UNI takes on Valparaiso in final game of 2025 calendar year. Tickets now available for purchase.
UNI men's basketball (9-3 / 1-0 MVC) vs. Valparaiso (6-6 / 0-1 MVC)
- 7 p.m. CT
- Monday, Dec. 29, 2025
- Cedar Falls, Iowa | McLeod Center (6,650)
- WATCH (MVC TV Network) | [Eric Braley: Play-by-Play / Matt Schniederman: Analyst)
- LISTEN (Panther Sports Radio Network) [J.W. Cox: Play-by-Play / Kevin Boyle: Analyst]
- LIVE RESULTS
- TICKETS
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --- Following a week long holiday break, the UNI men's basketball team returns to action to close out the 2025 calendar year as it host the Valparaiso Beacons to resume Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) play on Monday night in Cedar Falls.
Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT inside the McLeod Center with live coverage available on the MVC TV Network (ESPN+) and the Panther Sports Radio Network (93.5 The Mix) with J.W. Cox and Kevin Boyle 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.
Young fans under the age of 12 can purchase tickets for just $5 (in-person sales only), while college students from any school can receive free admission to the game by showing their school IDs at the gate.
UNI leads the all-time series with the Beacons, 33-7 and also holds an impressive 18-1 record against Valparaiso at home. The Panthers will look to snap its short two-game skid to the Beacons after falling to Valparaiso in its lone regular season matchup last year, as well as the MVC Tournament quarterfinal last March in St. Louis.
After topping UIC in its conference opener back on Dec. 17 in Chicago, Northern Iowa will resume league play after wrapping up non-conference action last Monday in a 63-58 loss at Saint Mary's in California. UNI held the Gaels to season-lows in points (63) and field goal percentage (32.1%), but was heavily outshot at the free throw line and outrebounded by Saint Mary's. Trey Campbell led UNI with 18 points against the Gaels, with Leon Bond III, Ismaël Diouf and Tristan Smith each scoring ten points and Ben Schwieger tallying nine points.
UNI ranks second in all of Division I with a 58.1 points per game scoring defense, allowing 60 or fewer points in all but three games this year.The Panthers are also in the top-ten in the nation in field goal percentage defense (.369) and three-point field goal percentage defense (.259)
Northern Iowa's defense has also forced 14 opposing turnovers per game through the first 12 games of the season, third-most in the MVC.
The Panthers are also 14th in the nation in assist/turnover ratio (1.8), rankings third in the league with 17.2 assists per game. UNI boasts the MVC's second-best scoring margin (4.7) and have committed just 9.5 turnovers per game.
Campbell looks to continue to add to the record book against UIC. Having scored his 1,000th career point earlier this month, Campbell's 108 career starts at UNI, tied for ninth most in program history, are the most among all active players in the MVC.
Sophomore forward Will Hornseth looks to continue to be a strong presence inside the paint, recently taking over as UNI's career shooting percentage leader (66.4%) with a minimum of 100 made shots. Schwieger meanwhile looks to continue his march to 500 points in his UNI career, looking to become the 116th player in team history to reach the milestone.
SCOUTING VALPARAISO
The Beacons visit Cedar Falls amid a three-game skid with losses to UNC Wilmington, Northwestern and Murray State.
Led by second year head coach Roger Powell, the Beacons have posted strong play from their bench, averaging 34 points per game from their reserves, second-most in the MVC. Valparaiso's blocking defense also ranks second in the league with 4.3 blocks a game.
Rakim Chaney and Owen Dease both average 11.5 points per game for Valparaiso, with JT Pettigrew notching 9.9 points and 5.5 rebounds, while Shon Tupuola has posted 7.8 points and a team-high 6.9 boards.
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.
