CEDAR FALLS — Panther men’s basketball shook off a cold-shooting first half Thursday, October 29, as three newcomers combined for 56 points to lead UNI past Upper Iowa 85-78 in a preseason exhibition at the McLeod Center.
Carson Vis scored 20 points, Greyson Uelmen added 19 and Isaiah Johnson-Arigu finished with 17 as Northern Iowa overcame a six-point halftime deficit against the Division II Peacocks. Uelmen went a perfect 14-for-14 at the free throw line, helping the Panthers turn a difficult offensive start into a comeback victory.
UNI finished with 30 made free throws to Upper Iowa’s 14 and shot 44% from the field overall. The exhibition served as a final tuneup ahead of the Panthers’ November 3 regular-season opener against Cornell College.
Upper Iowa scored the first six points and controlled much of the opening half. The Peacocks shot 46% from the field before halftime, while UNI managed just 27%.
The Panthers stayed within reach by getting to the foul line and creating turnovers. UNI made 15 first-half free throws, including all 10 of Uelmen’s attempts, and forced 12 turnovers before the break.
Northern Iowa trimmed the deficit to four points with two minutes remaining in the half, but Upper Iowa took a 35-29 lead into the locker room.
The Panthers found their shooting touch after halftime. Three-pointers from Vis, Geon Hutchins and Tate McCubbin helped drive the comeback, while Johnson-Arigu supplied an interior scoring presence with 13 second-half points.
UNI shot 56% from the field in the second half and scored 56 points over the final 20 minutes. The Panthers also continued to capitalize at the foul line, making 15 of 17 attempts after the break. Uelmen added four more free throws, and Vis made five.
Vis paired his team-leading scoring total with three assists. Uelmen contributed three assists and two steals alongside his flawless night at the line.
Johnson-Arigu added five rebounds and two blocks. Kyle Pock finished with nine points and five rebounds, matching Johnson-Arigu for the team lead on the glass. McCubbin contributed nine points and four rebounds, while Hutchins scored six.
The Panthers will open the 2026-27 regular season at home against Cornell College on Tuesday, November 3. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. Central at the McLeod Center, with coverage on ESPN+ and the Panther Sports Radio Network through 93.5 The Mix and the Varsity Network app.
Single-game and season tickets are available through the UNI Ticket Office by calling 319-273-4849 or emailing tickets@uni.edu.