University of Northern Iowa Athletics
University of Northern Iowa
22-12,11-9MVC
Bradley
21-12,13-7MVC
UNI men’s basketball holds off Bradley to advance to Arch Madness championship
3/7/2026 8:28:00 PM | Men's Basketball
Panthers dominate first half and move on to MVC Tournament title game on Sunday against UIC.
ST. LOUIS --- The UNI men's basketball team outshot Bradley in the first half and held off a resilient Braves team in the final period to emerge victorious in Saturday's semifinal game of the 2026 State Farm Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) Tournament (Arch Madness) by a score of 73-69.
Four Panthers scored in double figures on a record setting shooting day as Northern Iowa advances to its eighth MVC Tournament title game and first since 2019, seeking an automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament. UNI becomes the second team in Arch Madness history to reach the championship game after playing in the opening round on Thursday.
HOW IT HAPPENED
UNI attacked the paint early in the first half, hitting nine of its first 13 shots attempts from the floor, seizing control of the lead after trailing early in the first half by one. Northern Iowa's high efficiency offense on 71.4% shooting, matched by its smothering defensive efforts helped the Panthers stretch their lead to double digits thanks to a 13-point half by Leon Bond III on six-of-seven shooting and an impressive mid-game performance. A jump shot by Will Hornseth with seven and a half minutes to go in the period sparked a 10-0 Panther run which helped UNI take a 45-32 lead into half. Trey Campbell added nine points with five assists, plus seven points from RJ Taylor and six points each from Ben Schwieger and Hornseth.
Bradley would chip away at Northern Iowa's lead with pressure in the half court early and cut the Panther lead down to single digits within the first five minutes of the second half. UNI would hold firm as it stretched the lead back to double-digits on three-pointers by Max Weisbrod and Bond. Taylor would also come up with key baskets, including a triple with four and a half minutes to play. The Braves would pull within one possession in the final minute as the Panthers held off Bradley to secure the four-point win.
Bond finished the night with a game-high 19 points on seven-of-eight shooting, while Campbell posted 13 points and a game-high six assists. Both Schwieger and Taylor tallied ten points in the win with Schwieger leading UNI with five rebounds, as Tristan Smith and Hornseth each scored eight points.
ADDITIONAL NOTES
- UNI improves to 39-41 all-time against the Braves after splitting the regular season series. The Panthers are now 4-4 against Bradley at Arch Madness.
- Northern Iowa is now 8-5 in the semifinal round of the MVC Tournament and 6-4 under head coach Ben Jacobson.
- Head coach Ben Jacobson extended his own record with his 23rd MVC Tournament victory on Saturday after passing former Creighton coach Dana Altman for the most in the 50-year history of the tournament on Friday in the quarterfinals.
- The Panthers will make their eighth Arch Madness championship game appearance on Saturday having won the tournament five times (2004, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2016), with a pair of runner-up finishes as well (1994, 2019).
- Sunday's title game matchup with fifth-seeded UIC will tie the lowest combined seeds in MVC Tournament championship game history after sixth-seeded UNI and fifth-seeded Bradley set the mark in 2019.
- UNI joins the 2019-20 Valparaiso Beacons as the only other team to reach the Arch Madness title game after starting tournament play on Thursday in the opening round. A Panther win would also be the lowest seed to ever win the tournament.
- The Panthers set a new team single-game postseason record shooting 65.9% from the field, besting the 53.8% mark shot during the 1979 NCAA Division II Tournament against Green Bay and the 2011 CIT matchup vs. Rider.
- UNI's first half shooting performance marked the first time a team has shot over 70% in a half at the MVC Tournament since 2006.
- Northern Iowa is now 17-1 in games when leading at halftime.
- UNI has made at least one three-pointer in 181 consecutive games, a streak dating back to the 2020-21 season.
- Trey Campbell started his 130th career game on Saturday, extending his streak to lead all active MVC players. Campbell has also started 98 consecutive contests.
UP NEXT
The Panthers will take on fifth-seeded UIC in the championship games of Arch Madness tomorrow morning. Tip-off is scheduled for 11 a.m. CT at Enterprise Center with live coverage available on CBS and the Panther Sports Radio Network (93.5 The Mix).
Fans in attendance at the tournament are encouraged to attend a pregame rally at the Crown Hall at Ballpark Village in downtown St. Louis across the street from Busch Stadium at 9:30 a.m. CT.
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.
