University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
10-3,2-0MVC
Valparaiso
6-7,0-2MVC
UNI men’s basketball scores ten-point home win over Valparaiso
12/29/2025 10:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Panthers improve to 2-0 in league play. UNI hosts Indiana State on New Year’s Day.
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --- In its final game of the 2025 calendar year, the UNI men's basketball team surged in the second half and held the Valparaiso Beacons under 30% shooting in a 58-48 win to resume Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) play on Monday night inside the McLeod Center.
Grabbing their second win in league play, the Panthers overcame a sluggish first period and tough rebounding performance to hold the Beacons to a season-low 48 points and three-of-23 shooting from three-point range.
HOW IT HAPPENED
UNI jumped out to an early 8-3 lead on the Beacons but would struggle down the stretch of the first half, being held to 39.1% shooting in the first 20 minutes of action. The Panthers defense would stand strong holding Valparaiso to 32.1% from the field despite being outrebounded by a 22-14 margin. The Beacons would take a 22-20 lead amid a five-minute scoring drought for UNI before Will Hornseth, who led the Panthers with seven first half points on three-of-six shooting, tied the game at 22-22 heading into halftime.
Northern Iowa pulled away in the second half and never looked back, taking a four-point lead on four straight made free throws by Leon Bond III and Trey Campbell. After the Beacons responded with a 5-0 run of their own, the Panthers, who shot 55% from the field in the second stanza, took control with back-to-back three-point baskets by Campbell and Hornseth for a 44-37 lead with nine minutes to play. Holding Valparaiso to 29.3% shooting and a 12-point half from Campbell, UNI limited the Beacons' second chance scoring opportunities and held Valparaiso to just one-for-13 shooting to close the game, stretching the lead to ten points for the victory.
Hornseth finished the night with a career-high tying 16 points, plus seven rebounds and three assists, with Campbell posting 12 points and three assists. Ben Schwieger notched nine points, six rebounds and two blocks, while Bond also scored nine points and four boards. Tristan Smith tallied four points with seven rebounds as Geon Hutchins also added four points.
"I thought Valparaiso played a good game," said head coach Ben Jacobson. "Coming into tonight, I knew they would be a challenge. I give our guys a ton of credit as Valparaiso kept it coming with us being able to answer. A lot of it is showing up at the defensive end with our half court defense really holding up. Our rebounding needs to get better, but I like where we're at defensively.
ADDITIONAL NOTES
- UNI improves to 34-7 all-time against Valparaiso and 19-1 against the Beacons at home. The Panthers are also 2-0 in MVC play for the second consecutive season.
- Northern Iowa has held 12 of its first 13 opponents under 70 points this season, including eight under 60 points. UNI's 48 points allowed on Monday night were a season-low.
- Head coach Ben Jacobson's second half challenge on an out of bounds play was his first successful challenge of the season (1-for-3).
- Trey Campbell made his 109th career start on Monday afternoon, tying him with Cedrick McCullough (1988-92) for eighth-most in program history. Campbell's 109 career starts are also the most among active players in the MVC.
- Ben Schwieger is 71 points shy of becoming the 116th member of UNI's 500 career point club.
UP NEXT
The Panthers return to action on New Year's Day hosting the Indiana State Sycamores. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT at the McLeod Center with live coverage of the game can be found on ESPN+ and the Panther Sports Radio Network (93.5 The Mix).
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.
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.
