EAST LANSING, MICHIGAN — The Northern Iowa Panther men’s basketball team battled through a competitive first half but could not overcome a barrage of three-point shooting from fifth-ranked Michigan State, falling 106-72 to the Spartans on Friday, November 13, 2026, at the Breslin Center.
Michigan State knocked down 18 three-pointers, the most ever surrendered by Northern Iowa in a single game, as the Panthers struggled to contain the Spartans’ offensive attack in their first matchup against a Power Four conference opponent under new head coach Kyle Green.
The contest marked the first meeting between the programs since the 2010 NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen.
Michigan State wasted little time establishing control, opening the game with an 11-0 scoring run that put Northern Iowa in an immediate hole.
The Spartans connected on 10 of their first-half three-point attempts, shooting 10-for-16 from beyond the arc during the opening 20 minutes.
Despite the early deficit, UNI found ways to generate offense and remain within striking distance.
The Panthers shot 50 percent from the field in the first half and capitalized on 10 Michigan State turnovers, converting those opportunities into 12 points.
Greyson Uelmen provided 10 first-half points, while Levi Valdo delivered an important spark off the bench with nine points.
Northern Iowa entered halftime trailing 59-44, still within reach despite Michigan State’s exceptional perimeter shooting.
The second half, however, belonged overwhelmingly to the Spartans.
UNI’s offense cooled considerably, shooting just 31 percent from the field after halftime. Michigan State also dominated the rebounding battle, holding a 26-15 advantage on the glass over the final 20 minutes.
A 20-0 Michigan State scoring run included a six-minute stretch during which Northern Iowa failed to score.
The Spartans connected on eight additional three-pointers in the second half and finished the game shooting 48 percent from the field.
Northern Iowa could not recover from the extended scoring drought, allowing Michigan State to pull away for the 34-point victory.
Uelmen leads UNI men’s basketball offense
Greyson Uelmen paced the Panthers with 16 points on an efficient 6-for-9 shooting performance.
He also collected a team-high five rebounds and contributed two assists.
Uelmen has now reached double figures in all four games this season, and Friday marked the 33rd double-digit scoring performance of his collegiate career.
Jalen Wilson added a career-high 11 points, while Tate McCubbin matched his career best with 11 points, connecting on three shots from beyond the arc.
McCubbin has now made three three-pointers in two of his first four games as a Panther, having previously accomplished the feat during UNI’s road matchup at Furman.
Valdo finished with 11 points after his strong first-half contribution.
Carson Vis and Isaiah Johnson-Arigu each scored seven points, while Jaydon Kimbrough added five points off the bench.
Michigan State’s three-point shooting sets unwanted UNI record
Michigan State’s 18 made three-pointers established a new record for the most allowed by Northern Iowa in a single game.
The previous mark was 17, surrendered against Southern Illinois on February 22, 2023.
The loss also dropped UNI to 0-2 all-time against Michigan State.
Northern Iowa is now 19-45 against nationally ranked Division I opponents, including a 3-21 record in road games against ranked teams.
Friday’s contest represented an early challenge for Green’s program, matching the Panthers against one of the nation’s highest-ranked teams on its home floor.
While UNI showed offensive promise during stretches of the first half, the Spartans’ size, rebounding advantage and perimeter accuracy proved difficult to overcome.
UNI men’s basketball returns to action Saturday at Oakland
The Panthers will have little time to regroup before returning to the court Saturday, November 14, against Oakland University.
Tipoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. Central at OU Credit Union O’Rena in Rochester, Michigan.
The game will be available on ESPN+, with radio coverage on 106.5 Corn Country, the Varsity Network app and UNI’s athletics streaming website.
Northern Iowa will look to bounce back from Friday’s loss and regain its offensive rhythm as the Panthers continue their early-season nonconference schedule.