University of Northern Iowa Athletics
Panther men’s basketball: Three named to MVC Scholar-Athlete Team
3/5/2026 9:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
ST. LOUIS --- Three members of the UNI men's basketball team have been named to the Missouri Valley Conference's (MVC) Scholar-Athlete Team, as announced by the league office on Thursday morning.
Will Hornseth, Kyle Pock and Tristan Smith were among 17 student-athletes from around the league honored for their academic excellence in the classroom this season. Tyler Lundblade, the 2026 Larry Bird MVC Player of the Year winner, was also recognized as the MVC's Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
The criteria for the MVC Scholar-Athlete Team voting parallels College Sports Communicators (CSC) standards for Academic All-America nominations. To be nominated, a student-athlete must have a 3.50 cumulative GPA, both as an undergraduate and graduate student, where applicable. If a GPA has not been established as a transfer student, the cumulative GPA from the nominees' previous institution must be used.
Student-athletes must be at least a sophomore in academic and athletic standing. Redshirt freshmen are not eligible. Eligible nominees must compete in at least 75 percent of the regular season OR must start in at least 50 percent of the institution's games.
A sophomore standout for the Panthers, Hornseth, a member of this year's MVC Most Improved Team, appeared in and started 30 games during the regular season averaging a career-high 11.3 points and 4.6 rebounds per game while recording 17 blocked shots and 16 steals this year. An efficient shooter, Hornseth is shooting 61.6% from the field this season, currently on pace for the fifth-best single-season mark in UNI history. Entering the postseason, Hornseth has scored in double figures in 21 games, including ten or more points in each of his last 12 outings. Hornseth is currently majoring in sociology.
Pock, a junior from Bolivar, Missouri who earned MVC Scholar-Athlete Team honors a year ago, has appeared in all 31 games for Northern Iowa this season, averaging four points per game off the bench. He notably scored a career-high 15 points against Tulsa at the Acrisure Holiday Invitational in November and has sank a career-best 29 three-pointers for the Panthers this season. Pock is currently majoring in biochemistry.
A graduate student from Elizabeth, Colorado and transfer from NAIA Concordia (NE), Smith has averaged 9.1 points with 4.9 rebounds on 54.1% shooting in his lone season at UNI. Appearing in 16 games, Smith has posted 12 games in double figures with a season-high 18 points against Northern Iowa. Smith is currently pursuing a master's degree in kinesiology and sport performance.
2026 MVC MEN'S BASKETBALL SCHOLAR-ATHLETE HONORS
Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Tyler Lundblade (Belmont)
MVC Scholar-Athlete Team
- Andrew Alia (Drake)
- Jack Daugherty (Illinois State)
- Xavier Hall (Indiana State)
- Will Hornseth (UNI)
- Johnny Kinziger (Illinois State)
- Tyler Lundblade (Belmont)
- Ty Pence (Illinois State)
- Kyle Pock (UNI)
- Brigham Rogers (Belmont)
- Eli Shetlar (Drake)
- Brayden Shorter (Murray State)
- Sam Silverstein (UIC)
- Tristan Smith (UNI)
- Tucker Tornatta (Valparaiso)
- Landon Wolf (Illinois State)
- Kai Yu (Bradley)
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.
