CEDAR FALLS – UNI men’s basketball takes a 3-game winning streak to Des Moines late on Saturday afternoon as the Panthers battle in-state rival Drake for the second time in as many weeks at the Knapp Center at 5 p.m.
Per Drake University’s indoor mask policy, all spectators at the Knapp Center will be required to wear masks while in attendance.
The Panthers hit the road following a 78-65 home win over Bradley on Wednesday night, a victory that snapped the MVC’s longest active win streak at 4 games. UNI turned up the heat on the Braves in the second half of Wednesday’s game as Noah Carter posted 10 points in the second period, securing his 9th conference game this season of 15 or more points. The Panther defense also forced 18 total turnovers, 10 coming off of steals, leading to 20 points off takeaways. Four Panthers scored at least 15 points, led by Carter and Trae Berhow, who both notched 19 points in the 13-point win. AJ Green scored 18 points with 4 assists, and Bowen Born recorded 15 points off the bench.
Winners of 4 straight games, the Bulldogs return to Des Moines after an 85-67 win at Indiana State on Wednesday. Drake, the preseason favorite to win the MVC regular season title, posted 5 players with 14+ points, led by 15-point efforts from Garrett Sturtz, D.J. Wilkins, and Tremell Murphy. Roman Penn and Tucker DeVries both notched 14 points in the win over the Sycamores.
The Bulldogs edged the Panthers in the previous meeting on Jan. 22 in Cedar Falls as the Bulldogs defeated the Panthers 82-74 in overtime. UNI led by 10 points in the final three and a half minutes before Drake rallied to force extra time and ultimately win by 8 points. AJ Green led UNI with a game-high 27 points with 5 three-point field goals, 10 made free throws, and 9 rebounds. Nate Heise and Tyhwon Pickford scored 8 points each, as Antwan Kimmons and Austin Phyfe both scored 7 points. Roman Penn led Drake with 18 points as one of 5 Bulldogs in double-digit scoring figures. Garrett Sturtz posted a 16-point, 10 rebound double-double, while D.J. Wilkins scored 16 points.
Since the last meeting just two weeks ago, both UNI and Drake have gone 3-0, with both programs now holding the league’s two longest active winning streaks.
The Bulldogs are 11-1 at the Knapp Center this season, the only loss coming against Bradley on Jan. 19. UNI has proven to be road warriors throughout this season, posting a 5-3 record in true road games away from the McLeod Center. While Drake has won the previous 4 matchups, UNI still holds a 50-31 lead in the all-time series.
PANTHER NOTES
The Panthers are 2-1 this season when facing an MVC opponent for the second time. UNI’s lone loss came on the road on Jan. 19 at Valparaiso.
Noah Carter has scored at least 15 points in 9 of UNI’s 11 conference games this season, including a career-high 33 points at Valparaiso.
UNI has made at least 10 free throws in 12 of the last 14 games.
AJ Green ranks 2nd in the Missouri Valley Conference in points per game in league play (19.5), trailing Missouri State’s Isiah Mosley (23.9). Noah Carter is 4th in the MVC with 17.4 points a game in conference only games.
Trae Berhow is tied for 3rd in career three-point field goals at UNI (201) with Marc Sonnen (2009-13) and Johnny Moran (2008-12). Berhow and AJ Green both rank in the top 3 all-time in career three-pointers for the Panthers.
Saturday’s game will feature the MVC’s four leading active career rebounders. Tyhwon Pickford leads all active players in the league with 636 career rebounds, with Drake’s Garrett Sturtz in 2nd with 619. Trae Berhow is 3rd with 585 rebounds, while Austin Phyfe is 4th with 544 career boards.
Austin Phyfe is 36 points from passing his father, Steve in career points scored for the Panthers. Steve Phyfe, who played at UNI from 1987-90 and was part of the program’s first-ever NCAA Division I Tournament team in 1990, scored 912 career points for the Panthers, ranking 55th in program history.