CEDAR FALLS – Seven home matchups and a west coast multi-team event (MTE) headline the UNI men’s basketball team’s 2025-26 non-conference schedule.
The Panthers, who will celebrate their 125th anniversary season this year, will host Upper Iowa for a Nov. 1 exhibition before officially opening the 2025-26 campaign with a four-game homestand, beginning on Nov. 6 against the Cal State Northridge Matadors, who join UNI fresh off a National Invitation Tournament (NIT) appearance last March. Northern Iowa will also welcome South Dakota State to Cedar Falls on Nov. 9 following a 20-win season for the Jackrabbits last year.
Furman will visit the McLeod Center on Nov. 14 in the first meeting between the Panthers and Paladins since 2003, while UNI closes out its first four games of the season hosting Northern Illinois on Nov. 18 in search of a seventh consecutive victory over the Huskies.
Northern Iowa will hit the road for the first time on Nov. 22 at UC Irvine before beginning their two-game appearance at the Acrisure Holiday Invitational in Palm Springs, California. The Panthers open their Thanksgiving week MTE on Nov. 25 against former Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) rival Loyola-Chicago at 3 p.m. CT, and will face San Jose State or Tulsa on Nov. 26.
UNI returns home for another three-game homestand, opening with Division III Coe on Dec. 1. Longtime former conference rival Wichita State returns to the McLeod Center for the first time in eight seasons on Dec. 6, while Oakland visits Cedar Falls in the first-ever matchup between Northern Iowa and the Golden Grizzlies. The Panthers will close out non-conference play at reigning West Coast Conference champion Saint Mary’s on Dec. 22.
The full MVC schedule will be announced at a later date.
Season tickets for the 2025-26 Panther men’s basketball season, as well as tickets for the Acrisure Holiday Invitational in California can be purchased online through the UNI Ticket Office, by calling 319-273-4849 or through email at tickets@uni.edu. Single game tickets will go on sale at a later date.
Fans are encouraged to join the Panthers this preseason at the fourth annual Main Street Madness on Sept. 25 in downtown Cedar Falls with skills challenges, autographs and giveaways and more. More information on Main Street Madness can be found HERE.
2025-26 UNI MEN’S BASKETBALL NON-CONFERENCE SCHEDULE (TIME)
Nov. 1 vs. Upper Iowa [Exhibition] (TBA)
Nov. 6 vs. Cal State Northridge (TBA)
Nov. 9 vs. South Dakota State (TBA)
Nov. 14 vs. Furman (TBA)
Nov. 18 vs. Northern Illinois (TBA)
Nov. 22 at UC Irvine (TBA)
Nov. 25 vs. Loyola-Chicago (3 p.m. CT) [Acrisure Holiday Invitational]
Nov. 26 vs. San Jose State OR Tulsa (1 p.m. OR 3:30 p.m. CT) [Acrisure Holiday Invitational]
Dec. 1 vs. Coe (TBA)
Dec. 6 vs. Wichita State (TBA)
Dec. 13 vs. Oakland (TBA)
Dec. 22 at Saint Mary’s (TBA)