CEDAR FALLS – The UNI men’s basketball team rang in 2026 with a come-from-behind second half win on Thursday night, topping the Indiana State Sycamores by a score of 75-66 on New Year’s Day in Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) action.
In a matchup that saw both squads shoot the basketball at a high level, Northern Iowa overcame a nine-point deficit in the first half and five-point halftime hole with a dominant rebounding performance in the second half and strong interior offensive showing.
The Panthers opened a high paced first half scoring on each of its first four possessions, but would struggle with a cold shooting stretch that saw Indiana State take the lead in the middle of the period with a 12-0 run. In a half that saw both teams battle in the paint and UNI committed only two fouls, Leon Bond III led Northern Iowa with eight points and five rebounds with Trey Campbell scoring seven points with the Panthers shooting 50% on 30 attempts, heading to the locker room down five points, 38-33.
UNI used a 7-2 run to tie the game at 40-40 to open the second half with Ben Schwieger and Ismaël Diouf layups giving the Panthers the lead. Northern Iowa would extend the lead with an 8-0 to for a 52-44 lead as Tristan Smith, Schwieger and Campbell all tallied double-digit scoring figures in a half where the Panthers shot 59.3% from the field and outrebounded the Sycamores by a 20-7 margin. Indiana State would pull within three points with just over two minutes to play, but the UNI defense would shutout the Sycamores down the stretch and hold on for the nine-point victory.
Campbell ended the night with a game-high 18 points with Schwieger finishing with new season-highs in points (17) and made field goals (7). Smith tallied 15 points with a season-high tying six baskets with six rebounds as Bond posted an 11-point, ten rebound double-double. Diouf notched seven points and four rebounds and Will Hornseth five points.
“Indiana State did a phenomenal job with their passing and ball movement,” said head coach Ben Jacobson. “They invited us into that 12 to 16 foot pull-up shot and made us shoot a lot of jump shots. We had to get to the backboard and get to the rim and engage the center.”
ADDITIONAL NOTES
UNI improves to 34-37 all-time against Indiana State with its third straight win in the series. The Panthers are also now 20-19 vs. the Sycamores under head coach Ben Jacobson.
Northern Iowa’s victory marks its second consecutive season starting 3-0 in MVC play.
The Panthers have now held 13 of its first 14 opponents under 70 points this season, including eight under 60 points.
UNI outrebounded Indiana State by a 10-2 margin on offense, the second-most offensive rebounds this season behind its 12 at UC Irvine in November.
Trey Campbell made his 110th career start on Thursday night, tying him with Jeremy Morgan (2013-17) for seventh-most in program history. Campbell’s 110 career starts are also the most among active players in the MVC.
Leon Bond III’s double-double was his second of the season and his career. Bond is also just one point shy of 500 for his career at both UNI and Virginia.
Ben Schwieger is 54 points shy of becoming the 116th member of UNI’s 500 career point club.
UP NEXT
The Panthers return to action on Sunday, Jan. 4 when they visit the Evansville Purple Aces. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m. CT at the Ford Center with live coverage of the game can be found on ESPN+ and the Panther Sports Radio Network (93.5 The Mix).
