University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
14-9,6-6MVC
Evansville
5-17,1-10MVC
Panther men’s basketball cruises to 71-55 win over Evansville
1/31/2026 5:36:00 PM | Men's Basketball
UNI closes out January with double-digit win against Purple Aces. Panthers host Bradley next Friday.
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa --- UNI men's basketball's offense soared with six dunks and ten three-point field goals on Saturday afternoon as the Panthers closed out the month of January with a 71-55 home win over the Evansville Purple Aces inside the McLeod Center in Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) action.
Led by four Panthers in double-digit scoring figures and double-double performances by Ben Schwieger and Trey Campbell, Northern Iowa assisted on 22 of its 29 made baskets, the most against a conference opponent this year.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Panthers fell behind early out of the gate by five points, but responded in style with a 15-0 scoring run, including Will Hornseth scoring seven of UNI's first ten points. Northern Iowa dominated the rebounding battle by a 20-12 margin and knocked down six three-point baskets to stretch its leads to as many as 23 points, its largest margin against an MVC opponent this season. With Hornseth leading the charge with 11 points, along with nine points from three triples from Leon Bond III, eight points from Ismaël Diouf including a pair of dunks and six rebounds by Schwieger, UNI rolled into halftime with a 20-point lead, 41-21.
Northern Iowa's offense continued to hum into the second half as UNI attacked the paint with Hornseth and continued to strike from three-point range. The Purple Aces would go on an 8-0 run late but the Panthers were able to distribute the ball thanks to six second half assists from Campbell, stretching the lead to as many as 26 points in the 16-point win.
Hornseth finished the day with a career-high 21 points on a career-high ten made field goals, while Campbell posted a 12-point game with a career-high ten assists. Bond tallied 11 points and six boards, with Schwieger recording ten points, a season-high tying ten rebounds and five assists. Diouf finished with eight points, while Max Weisbrod, Geon Hutchins and Kyle Pock each scored three points each.
ADDITIONAL NOTES
- UNI improves to 39-30 all-time in the series with Evansville, notching its fourth straight win over the Purple Aces. The Panthers have now won 12 consecutive home games against Evansville and have now also swept the Purple Aces in the regular season in consecutive seasons.
- Saturday's game marks the 12th game this season the Northern Iowa defense has held an opponent under 60 points, improving to 10-2 in such games.
- Northern Iowa's 41 first half points were the most scored by the Panthers against an MVC opponent in the opening period this season.
- UNI has now held 11 of its last 13 opponents under 30% for a game in three-point shooting percentage. The Panthers, who have made at least one three-pointer in 170 consecutive games, sank ten three-point baskets against the Purple Aces, the most against an MVC team this season.
- Trey Campbell's 12-point, ten assist game marked the first double-double of his career.
- Campbell started his 119th career game on Saturday, one start shy of tying Ben Jacobson (2002-06) for third-most in team history. Campbell's 119 career starts are most among active players in the MVC.
- Saturday marked the fourth career double-double game for Ben Schwieger, including his second of the 2025-26 season.
- Leon Bond III sits 18 points shy of scoring his 500th point as a Panther after Wednesday's game.
UP NEXT
The Panthers return to action on Friday, Feb. 6 when they host the Bradley Braves for the second annual Panthers In Paradise Game. Tip-off is scheduled for 7 p.m. CT at the McLeod Center with live coverage available on CBS Sports Network and the Panther Sports Radio Network (93.5 The Mix).
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.
