NASHVILLE, Tenn. – For a second consecutive game, at least four Panthers scored in double figures as the UNI men’s basketball team dropped a 91-86 road contest to the Belmont Bruins at the Curb Event Center in Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) play.
Northern Iowa struggled to slow down one of the nation’s hottest shooting three-point teams, but battled against the league-leading Bruins down to the final minutes, shooting 49% from the field against Belmont’s 57% shooting clip.
UNI withstood a 6-0 Belmont run to open the game and responded with six straight points of its own before rattling off 13 straight points to take the lead, fueled by eight points from Leon Bond III during that stretch. In a back-and-forth first half that saw the Bruins knock down nine-of-19 three-point attempts, the Panthers held firm and shot 55.6% from the floor, outscoring Belmont by a 10-3 margin off six turnovers, while Bond hit three out his four three-point shots. The Bruins would find a spark again however and take a six points lead heading into the final three minutes of the period, but an 8-2 UNI run would tie the game with Kyle Pock knocking down the tying triple on the Panthers’ final possession. Led by 15 points from Bond, 12 from Campbell and 11 from Will Hornseth, Northern Iowa went into the halftime break even at 45-45.
Max Weisbrod super charged the Panther offense with 18 second half points, opening up the half with back-to-back three-pointers alongside Campbell. The Bruins would take the lead for good however shortly after as Belmont’s Tyler Lundblade knocked down five three-pointers in the second period and stretched the Bruins’ lead to as many as eight points. UNI would cut the game down to a single possession five times down the stretch, but would be unable to retake the lead despite tying the game on consecutive layups by Tristan Smith and Bond at 76-76.
Bond finished the night with 21 points, seven rebounds and a season-high tying three steals in the loss, with Campbell tallying 19 points and three steals as well. Weisbrod posted a UNI career-high tying and season-best 18 points, with Hornseth notching 15 points and a career-high seven assists. Pock finished with seven points for the Panthers, while Smith posted six points
“We battled tonight and moved the ball very well in a good offensive game,” said head coach Ben Jacobson. “We answered the bell on several possessions but they didn’t take any possessions off. There were some stretches where we couldn’t get what we wanted because we got too tired. Our defense needed to be just a little bit better.”
ADDITIONAL NOTES
UNI falls to 4-5 all-time against the Bruins, including 2-2 on the road at Belmont.
The Panthers have now made at least one three-pointer in 173 consecutive games, a streak dating back to the 2020-21 season.
UNI falls to 99-13 (.883) when scoring 80+ points under head coach Ben Jacobson, snapping an 18-game winning streak when scoring 80 or more points.
Northern Iowa’s 14 three-pointers allowed were a season-high and most given up since the Panthers’ 2024 MVC Tournament semifinal loss to Indiana State (15). UNI also gave up nine triples in the first half, most allowed in any half this year.
The Panthers allowed just three offensive rebounds to Belmont on Thursday, third-fewest in a game this season.
UNI’s 23 made free throws are the second-most made on the year, as well as the most made in league play this season.
Trey Campbell started his 122nd career game on Thursday, extending his streak to lead all active MVC players. Campbell has also started 89 consecutive contests.
Campbell jumped to 17th on UNI’s all-time scoring list in the loss, passing Troy Muilenburg (1986-91) and Dale Turner (1988-92). He also pulled within one three-pointer of becoming the eighth Panther in team history to make at least 200 career triples,
while also passing Andy Woodley (1998-02) for fourth in team history in career steals (160).
Campbell is also 34 rebounds and five assists away from becoming the first player in program history to record 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and 300 assists in a career. His next five assists will also make him the third Panther all-time with 1,000 points, 400 rebounds and 300 career assists.
Thursday marked Leon Bond III’s six career game with 20+ points and his fourth such game of the year.
Will Hornseth is 74 points away from scoring his 500th career point.
UP NEXT
The Panthers return to action on Sunday, Feb. 15 when they host in-state rival Drake for their annual Purple Out Game. Tip-off is scheduled for 2 p.m. CT at the McLeod Center with live coverage available on CBS Sports Network and the Panther Sports Radio Network (93.5 The Mix).
UNI will hold a jersey retirement ceremony prior to tip for two-time MVC Player of the Year and current Milwaukee Bucks guard AJ Green. Fans are encouraged to be seated for the ceremony by 1:40 p.m. CT. Green will also hold an autograph session following the game on the arena’s north concourse. A limited number of posters will be available postgame, while 1,000 t-shirts will also be available on the south concourse while supplies last prior to the game.
