University of Northern Iowa
SMU
Panther men’s hoops set to square off with SMU in NIT opening round
3/18/2025 11:04:00 AM | Men's Basketball
UNI battles ACC challenger to open third NIT appearance in program history.
UNI men's basketball (20-12 / 14-6 MVC) at SMU (23-10 / 13-7 ACC) [NIT-First Round]
- 8 p.m. CT | Mar. 19, 2025
- Moody Coliseum | Dallas, Tex.
- ESPN2 (Lowell Galindo: Play-by-Play / Theo Pinson: Analyst)
- Panther Sports Radio Network (J.W. Cox: Play-by-Play / Kevin Boyle: Analyst)
- LIVE STATS
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --- The postseason continues for the UNI men's basketball team on Wednesday night as the Panthers visit Dallas to take on the SMU Mustangs in the opening round of the 2025 National Invitation Tournament (NIT).
Wednesday's action will tip off at 8 p.m. CT at Moody Coliseum with live coverage of the first round available on ESPN2, as well as the Panther Sports Radio Network with J.W. Cox and Kevin Boyle on the call.
Northern Iowa will make its 20th national postseason appearance in program history and third in the NIT after a 20-12 season and third-place finish in the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC). UNI previously played in the NIT in 2012 and 2022, winning a first round game during each appearance. The Panthers head to Dallas winners of seven of their last ten games and nine of their previous 13.
This will be the third all-time meeting between UNI and SMU with the Mustangs holding a 2-1 lead in the series. The Panthers bested SMU in Nov. 2017 in their previous meeting at the 2017 Battle 4 Atlantis, while the Mustangs won the lone postseason matchup in the 2011 CollegeInsider.com (CIT) Tournament.
The Panthers enter the NIT as one of the top shooting teams in the nation, ranking 15th in all of Division I and first in the MVC with a 48.9% field goal mark. UNI is currently on pace for the eighth-best team shooting clip in its history and best mark this century. The Panthers, who have shot 50% or better in 14 of 32 games this season, are also second in the Valley in scoring defense (67.2 points allowed per game). Northern Iowa is also a perfect 17-0 when leading at halftime, as well as 18-0 when leading with five minutes remaining in regulation.
In 31 games against Division I opponents this season, UNI has outscored its opposition in the paint 23 times, going 18-5 in such games. On average, the Panthers score 32.3 points per game in the paint, outscoring their opponents by 7.1 points per game inside. Twelve times in 31 games against D1 opponents Northern Iowa has outscored their opponents by ten or more points in the paint. In league only games, the Panthers were outscored in the Paint only twice.
Tytan Anderson, a 2025 First Team All-MVC honoree and All-Defensive Team selection, enters the tournament as the MVC's leader in made free throws (143) and attempts (203). Averaging a team-best 15.5 points per game and a team-high 6.5 rebounds a game on 57.7% shooting, Anderson is also seventh all-time in program history in career steals (148) and rebounds (795) and tied for third in games played with the Panthers (138).
Jacob Hutson has notched 11.7 points and 4.4 rebounds, while Trey Campbell, a Third Team All-MVC honoree, has posted 11.2 points and a team-high 94 assists. Ben Schwieger has put up ten points and 5.1 boards per game as a starter in the Panther lineup in the last 24 contests. Will Hornseth, meanwhile, is shooting at a high percentage in his freshman season, posting a 68.3% clip on 69-of-101 shooting, currently on pace to set a new single-season field goal percentage record.
From beyond the arc, Cael Schmitt, who has appeared in 14 games since his UNI and Division I debut at Southern Illinois in January, has steadily increased his minutes on the floor each game while shooting 12-for-35 from range. Max Weisbrod has also been a spark for Northern Iowa's three-point shooting having started the last ten games and trailing on Campbell for the team lead with 45 made three pointers on 42.7%.
SCOUTING SMU
The Mustangs, who finished 23-10 overall this season and in a tie for fourth in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) with a 13-7 record, will make its seventh NIT appearance and fourth in the last five seasons.
Under the leadership of first-year head coach Andy Enfield, SMU took down Syracuse in the second round of the ACC Tournament last week in Charlotte before falling to third-seeded Clemson by three points in the quarterfinals.
SMU is led by Third Team All-ACC guard Boopie Miller's 13.2 points and team-high 155 assists. Chuck Harris has notched 12.8 points a game, while Matt Cross has posted 11.9 points and a team-high 7.8 rebounds. ACC All-Defensive Team selection BJ Edwards leads the Mustangs with a team-high 78 steals.
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 2024-25 schedule and roster, along with the latest Panther news and information can be found online at UNIpanthers.com.
