ST. LOUIS – ESPN has selected the UNI at Drake men’s basketball game for distribution on ESPN2 on Saturday, Feb. 29. The game will air at 5 p.m. Central.
The UNI-Drake contest will feature a top candidate for the league’s Larry Bird Trophy in UNI’s AJ Green and a top candidate for the league’s Newcomer of the Year award in guard Roman Penn. Green has led the Panthers to their 21-3 start, and he leads the league with 20.0 points per game. The league’s 2019 MVC Freshman of the Year also tops the conference in three-point field goals made (74) and ranks third in the nation in free throw percentage (92.1).
Penn, a transfer from Siena, is tops in the MVC in assists per game (6.0). Drake also has one of the most dominant big men in the league in Liam Robbins, who has recorded 70 blocks to lead the conference. Since the 2009-10 season, UNI has dominated the overall series between the two schools, winning 19 times in 23 meetings. The last five meetings have all been decided by 10 or fewer points, however, and Drake has won the last two matchups in Des Moines.