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Men's Basketball
UNI Hosts Wichita StateJan. 2, 2009
Complete Release in PDF Format
Game 14: Wichita State at UNI Saturday, Jan. 3 -- 7:05 pm McLeod Center -- Cedar Falls, Iowa TV: CFU Radio: UNI Sports Network Internet: Live Audio/Video and Gametracker (UNIPanthers.com)
The University of Northern Iowa men’s basketball team (7-6, 1-1 Missouri Valley Conference) plays its third game in seven days, as it returns home to play host to the Wichita State Shockers (6-7, 0-2 MVC) on Saturday night. Tipoff from the McLeod Center is 7:05 pm.
JUMP BALLS... l UNI has won nine of the last 12 meetings against Wichita State, including sweeping the season series a year ago. The Panthers defeated the Shockers last year at home, 77-75, in the first overtime game in the history of the McLeod Center. l The Panthers 59-51 win at Southern Illinois Dec. 31 was the team’s first victory at SIU Arena since the 1996-97 season, when UNI posted a 92-81 win over the Salukis. It was also just Southern Illinois’ third Missouri Valley Conference home loss since the start of the 2001-02 campaign. l Over its last three games, UNI is shooting 47 percent from three-point range (22-for-47). Sophomore guard Kerwin Dunham is a perfect 4-for-4 on treys during the last three contests, while junior guard Ali Farokhmanesh is 7-for-11 (.636), and freshman guard Johnny Moran is 6-for-12 (500). l Sophomore guard Kerwin Dunham had a season-high 11 points at Southern Illinois Dec. 31. Dunham hit all three three-point attempts versus the Salukis, including draining a three from the right wing with 1:46 left that gave the Panthers a 55-47 lead. Dunham has had great success in his two games at SIU Arena, as he scored a career-high 13 points there as a redshirt freshman on Feb. 20, 2008. Over his two games in Carbondale, Dunham has connected on 8-of-12 shots from the floor and made all five of his free throws. l UNI held Southern Illinois to just 35 percent field goal shooting Dec. 31 in its 59-51 win, the second time in the last three games the Panthers have held their opponent to less than 40 percent shooting. The Salukis connected on 19-of-55 shots from the floor, with the 19 field goals being the fewest UNI has allowed a Division I opponent this season. l UNI ranks second in The Valley in free throw percentage at .767. The Panthers have gotten to the line at least 20 times in seven of 13 games this season, including their last two.
SCOUTING WICHITA STATE Wichita State is 6-7 on the season, 0-2 in the Missouri Valley. The Shockers are 0-3 in true road games this season. Junior guard Clevin Hannah leads WSU with an 11.0 points per game average, while freshman guard Toure’ Murry averages 10.5 points per contest. Senior forward Ramon Clemente averages a league-best 8.9 rebounds per game.
ALL-TIME SERIES WITH THE SHOCKERS UNI holds a 20-16 lead against Wichita State, having won nine of the last 12 meetings between the two schools. The Panthers are 13-4 all-time in home games against the Shockers, 1-1 in the McLeod Center.
RADIO INFORMATION UNI’s men’s basketball games can be heard on the UNI Sports Radio Network, with KXEL 1540 AM (Waterloo, Iowa) serving as flagship station. Affiliates include KCHA (95.9 FM, Charles City), KVFD (1400 AM, Fort Dodge), KQCR (98.9 FM, Hampton), KRIB (1490 AM, Mason City), KILJ (105.5 FM, Mount Pleasant) and KQWC (1570 AM, Webster City). Long-time Panthers announcer Gary Rima handles play-by-play duties, while Kevin Boyle serves as analyst. In addition, head coach Ben Jacobson’s hour-long weekly coaches call-in show airs on KXEL at 6:00 pm each Thursday night.
MVC WEEKLY TELECONFERENCE Once again this year, the Missouri Valley Conference will hold a weekly men’s basketball teleconference for each of its 10 head coaches. The calls will resume on Jan. 6, 2009, and be held each Tuesday after that until the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament. UNI head coach Ben Jacobson is scheduled to be on at 10:51 a.m. Media members wishing to participate should call 913-981-5517. Contact Mike Kern at the Missouri Valley Conference office (314-421-0339) for a full listing of dates for the media calls.
UNI GAMEDAY ONLINE Most of UNI’s home regular-season men’s basketball games can be viewed and listened to on the World Wide Web by going to www.unipanthers.com. UNI has partnered with Stretch Internet to provide live video and audio streaming of Panther basketball via “UNI GameDay Online.” In addition to video from most home men’s basketball contests, and audio from every home and road game, this subscription-based service also provides video and audio of a number of other UNI sports. Click on the “UNI GameDay Online” button on the front page of UNIPanthers.com to sign up.
TICKET INFORMATION Full-season and mini-plan ticket packages are available to see the Panther men’s basketball team, as well as single-game tickets. Contact UNITix at 319-273-4TIX, visit the UNITix Office, or log on to www.UNIPanthers.com. GO, GO, KWADZO Sophomore point guard Kwadzo Ahelegbe scored a career-high 28 points, nearly leading UNI from a 21-point first half deficit to the win, in the team’s 85-84 double-overtime loss to Indiana State on Dec. 28. Ahelegbe connected on 11-of-19 shots from the floor, and was 2-of-3 from three-point range, while also grabbing three rebounds and dishing out three assists. The 28 points was the most ever scored by a UNI player in the three-year history of the McLeod Center, Ahelegbe’s previous career-high was 18 points against Iowa State in an overtime loss Dec. 3.
HOT AGAINST THE JACKS UNI posted a season-best 57.1 percent field goal shooting mark against South Dakota State Dec. 21. The Panthers connected on 28-of-49 shots from the floor, with the 28 field goals made also a season-best. UNI made an even more impressive 63 percent (15-for-24) from the field in the first half, as it raced to a 40-19 halftime lead. The Panthers were also hot from the three-point line versus the Jackrabbits, as they shot a season-high 55 percent (6-for-11). Ali Farokhmanesh was 2-for-2, Kerwin Dunham was 1-for-1 and Johnny Moran was 2-for-3 from behind the arc.
GOING THE DISTANCE The Panthers 85-84 double-overtime loss to Indiana State Dec. 28 was the first double-overtime game in the three-year history of the McLeod Center. The last time UNI played in a double-overtime game was on Feb. 18, 2006, in a 65-61 double OT win over 24th-ranked Bucknell at the UNI-Dome. That game was played before a national television audience as part of ESPNU BracketBusters Saturday.
IRON MEN Two players saw career-high minute totals in UNI’s double-overtime game with Indiana State Dec. 28. Sophomore guard Kwadzo Ahelegbe played 46 of 50 possible minutes against the Sycamores, while freshman guard Johnny Moran played 41 minutes.
DIALING LONG DISTANCE UNI made a season-high 10 three-pointers against Indiana State Dec. 28. Ali Farokhmanesh led the way with four treys – all after halftime – while Kwadzo Ahelegbe and Johnny Moran each connected on two.
BIG RALLY FALLS SHORT AGAINST ISU After falling behind by as many as 21 points in the first half (39-18), and trailing by 17 points at halftime (41-24), UNI fought back to force overtime against Indiana State Dec. 28. Travis Brown hit a three-pointer from the top of the key with one second left to force the extra session. Kwadzo Ahelegbe then made a layup with less than 20 seconds left in the first overtime to tie the score and force the second extra period, before UNI eventually fell, 85-84 in double OT.
SEASON-HIGH SCORING AGAINST INDIANA STATE UNI scored a season-high 84 points against Indiana State Dec. 28 in its double-overtime loss to the Sycamores. The Panthers’ offense has scored more than 80 points twice this year, and recorded 74 or more points in four games this year. By contrast, UNI scored 74 points or better in just four games the entire 2007-08 campaign.
BIG JORDAN DOMINATES COWBOYS Jordan Eglseder’s 31-point effort against Wyoming Dec. 13 was not only a career-high for the 7-1 junior center, but it was also the most points scored by a UNI player since Feb. 9, 2005. Former Panthers’ star guard Ben Jacobson (no relation to the team’s current head coach) had 31 points that night, in an 83-82 loss at Creighton. Eglseder also had 11 rebounds against the Cowboys, for his third double-double of the season.
HE SHOOTS, HE SCORES Eglseder leads the Missouri Valley Conference, and ranks 10th nationally, in field goal percentage. He has connected on 60.0 percent of his attempts this season (60-for-110). Former UNI center Jason Sims holds the school’s single-season record for field goal percentage, as he made 64.4 percent (121-188) of his shots in the 1994-95 campaign.
AHELEGBE OUTSTANDING VERSUS ISU, UND Point guard Kwadzo Ahelegbe had the best two-game stretch of his UNI career the week of Dec. 1, averaging 17.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists over two games. Against Iowa State Dec. 3, he scored a career-high 18 points, while tying his career-best with six rebounds. He also had four assists and no turnovers in 38 minutes of playing time. Three days later against North Dakota, Ahelegbe again led UNI in scoring, this time with 17 points, making 6-of-8 shots from the floor and a career-high three treys.
O’REAR MAKES IMPACT IN DEBUT Sophomore forward Lucas O’Rear played in his first game of the season against Chicago State Nov. 25. He nearly posted his first career double-double, scoring nine points and grabbing 10 rebounds versus the Cougars. O’Rear, who shot just 50 percent from the foul line as a freshman, also made 7-of-8 free throws.
DOUBLE TROUBLE Junior forward Adam Koch recorded his third career double-double versus Iowa State on Dec. 3. Koch tied his season-high with 18 points against the Cyclones, and also grabbed a season-best 12 rebounds. He has had two double-doubles this season, also getting one against Chicago State on Nov. 25. That night against the Cougars, he scored 17 points and grabbed 11 rebounds.
BALL CONTROL UNI had just three turnovers against Iowa State on Dec. 3, which was just one more than the school-record for fewest turnovers in a game. Versus the Cyclones, UNI also went the entire 40 minute regulation period with just one turnover, including none in the second half. The only time UNI has had fewer turnovers in a game was against Dayton on Dec. 23, 2005 in a game played in Las Vegas, Nev., when it had two.
CLEANING THE GLASS The Panthers dominated on the glass versus Chicago State in their win Nov. 25. UNI grabbed a season-best 47 rebounds (including 12 offensive) to just 24 by CSU. Adam Koch and Lucas O’Rear led the way with 11 and 10 rebounds, respectively. The Panthers also recorded a commanding 40-24 rebounding edge against North Dakota Dec. 6.
STOPPING THE SIOUX The Panthers held North Dakota to just 37 percent shooting Dec. 6, the lowest total by an opponent this season. The Fighting Sioux connected on just 18-of-49 shots from the floor in UNI’s 69-49 win.
CLUTCH KERWIN Kerwin Dunham had a then season-high eight points and a career-best four rebounds versus Iowa State Dec. 3. Dunham also made his first three-pointer of the season against the Cyclones, nailing a trey from the left corner with five seconds left in regulation to tie the game at 62 and force overtime.
BROWN DELIVERS AGAINST CSU Guard Travis Brown -- the lone active senior on UNI’s roster -- had a season-best 14 points versus Chicago State. He hit on 4-of-8 field goals (including a pair of three-pointers), and was a perfect 4-for-4 at the free throw line. Brown did all his work in just 18 minutes off the bench. STRONG DEBUT FOR MORAN True freshman point guard Johnny Moran had a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds in his college debut against Denver 11/15. That was the first double-double by a UNI player in his first game as a Panther since junior college transfer Brad Hill scored 18 points and grabbed 12 rebounds against Missouri Western on 11/27/89.
MORAN HAS CAREER-BEST AGAINST THE TIGERS Guard Johnny Moran had a career-best 21 points, while adding five rebounds, two assists and two steals, against Texas Southern Nov. 23. Moran connected on 7-of-11 shots from the field and 6-of-8 from three-point range, while also hitting all four of his free throws.
DISHING IT OUT The Panthers’ three primary ball-handlers, Kwadzo Ahelegbe, Johnny Moran and Ali Farokhmanesh, have combined for 95 assists this season. Ahelegbe ranks seventh in the Valley in assists, averaging 3.5 per game, while Moran is just outside the top 15 with a 2.0 assists average, and Farokhmanesh averages 1.9 apg. Last year, UNI’s leading assist man (Jared Josten) averaged 2.0 assists per game.
TAKING WHAT THEY GIVE YOU UNI is shooting an impressive .767 from the free throw line as a team this season which ranks second in the MVC and is 11th in the nation. Nine of the 11 players that have attempted foul shots for the Panthers are shooting better than 70 percent from the line, with seven of them shooting 75 percent or better.
DOUBLE TIME Center Jordan Eglseder has had three double-doubles this season, and six for his career. He had his first of the year against Illinois-Chicago Nov. 19, with a then career-high 23 points and 10 rebounds. He also had a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds against Auburn Nov. 29, and then tallied a career-best 31 points and season-high 11 rebounds at Wyoming Dec. 13. Eglseder leads the MVC in and is 10th in the NCAA in field goal percentage, having made an impressive 60.0 percent of his shots.
RODENBERG MAKES DEBUT AGAINST SOUTH DAKOTA STATE Junior forward Adam Rodenberg made his UNI debut against South Dakota State Dec. 21. After transferring in from UC Irvine after the fall 2007 semester and sitting out the NCAA-required two semesters, Rodenberg came off the bench and contributed three points and five rebounds in 21 minutes of action versus SDSU.
ALI FOR THREE Junior shooting guard Ali Farokhmanesh scored a career-high 20 points versus UIC 11/19. He hit on 6-of-14 three-pointers versus the Flames, which was just short of school records in both categories. Cam Johnson holds the UNI records for three-pointer makes (8) and attempts (16), both set in the 1993-94 season, against Drake and Southern Illinois, respectively. He tied his career-best with 20 points against Indiana State Dec. 28, hitting 4-of-6 on threes.
INSIDE PRESENCE The Panthers two inside players, Jordan Eglseder and Adam Koch, made their presence felt against Denver Nov. 15, particularly in the second half. The pair scored 22 of their 28 combined points after intermission, as UNI rallied from a one-point halftime deficit to win by five. In the game, Eglseder and Koch were a combined 11-for-12 from the field and 6-for-8 at the free throw line.
ANOTHER SEASON-OPENING WIN With its 61-56 victory over Denver Nov. 15, UNI has now won its last five season-openers, and also won its last eight home-opening contests. The last time the Panthers dropped a home opener was in the 2000-01 season. NEW GUARDS? NO PROBLEM In the Panthers’ season-opening win over Denver Nov. 15, three of UNI’s starting guards were not even on the active roster a year ago, but each had a big impact against the Pioneers. True freshman point guard Johnny Moran had 14 points, 10 rebounds and two assists; junior college transfer Ali Farokhmanesh had 13 points; and sophomore guard Kwadzo Ahelegbe (who missed the entire 2007-08 season with a shoulder injury) had a team-high five assists.
MONTGOMERY LEAVES TEAM Sophomore guard Jon Montgomery has left the University of Northern Iowa men’s basketball team and left school at the end of the fall semester. The 6-4 Montgomery, a native of Chicago, Ill., played in 33 games his two seasons at UNI, averaging 2.3 points and 1.2 rebounds per contest. He appeared in six games this year for the Panthers.
UNI PICKED SIXTH IN MVC PRESEASON POLL The Panthers were picked sixth in the preseason Missouri Valley Conference men’s basketball poll, in voting by the league’s coaches, sports information directors and media. Creighton was a near-unanimous pick to win the league with 386 points and 36 of 39 first-place votes. Southern Illinois was second with two first-place votes and 322 points, followed by Illinois State with the other top vote and 309 points. Drake was fourth with 274 points, followed by Bradley (219) and UNI (186). Rounding out the voting were Indiana State (137), Evansville (122), Wichita State (105) and Missouri State (85).
BLUE RIBBON LOVES UNI Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook picked UNI to finish second in its 2008-09 preseason Missouri Valley Conference rankings. In addition to the high pick for the team, the magazine projected the Panthers to have the top front court in The Valley, with junior Jordan Eglsder, junior Adam Koch, sophomore Lucas O’Rear and junior Adam Rodenberg.
JACOBSON OFF TO BEST UNI COACHING START EVER Panthers head coach Ben Jacobson, now in his third year at the helm of the UNI program, guided his first two squads to a combined total of 36 wins. That is the most victories for a Panthers men’s basketball coach in his first two years strolling the UNI sideline.
PANTHERS SIGN TWO IN EARLY PERIOD UNI signed a pair of guards for the 2009-10 season, UNI head coach Ben Jacobson announced Nov. 12. Inking to play with the Panthers starting next fall were 6-3 guard Marc Sonnen (St. Paul, Minn./Tartan High School) and 6-1 guard Matt Morrison (Solon, Iowa/Solon High School). Sonnen has been a three-year starter for Tartan High School, earning All-Suburban Conference honors each of the last two seasons, including being named league MVP his junior campaign. He averaged 19.9 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game last year for the Titans, earning all-state accolades from Minnesota Breakdown and being named second-team all-metro by the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. He is a McDonald’s 2009 All-America nominee and a candidate for this year’s Minnesota’s ‘Mr. Basketball’ award. Sonnen becomes the fourth Tartan player in recent seasons to join the Panther basketball program, as Erik Crawford (2003-06), Eric Coleman (2004-07) and Kwadzo Ahelegbe (2006-present) each are Tartan alums. Morrison has been a first-team all-conference selection the past two seasons for Solon High School, and was a second-team all-state selection as a junior. He averaged 16.4 points and 4.7 assists per game last season for Solon, as the Spartans finished 23-2 and placed third at the state tournament. Over the past three seasons, Morrison has helped guide Solon to a cumulative 69-7 record, with three conference titles and two trips to the state tourney. Morrison is also the starting quarterback for Solon’s football team.
SALAD DAYS The Panthers have won 108 games since the start of the 2003-04 season, marking the most successful five-plus year stretch in school history, with a cumulative record of 108-63. UNI has won at least 18 games each of the previous five years, including tying the school record for wins in 2005-06 with 23. The second-best UNI five-year victory total is 89, as UNI went 89-29 from 1960-61 through 1964-65, when UNI was a Division II school known as the State College of Iowa.
TOP HALF AGAIN UNI finished in a tie for fifth in last year’s Missouri Valley Conference standings. That marked the fifth straight season that the Panthers had posted an upper-division finish in The Valley. Prior to that streak starting in 2003-04, UNI had finished in the top five of the MVC standings just twice since joining The Valley for the 1991-92 basketball season.
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