Complete UNI Men's Basketball Game Notes in PDF Format 
Complete Missouri Valley Conference Men's Basketball Notes/Stats in PDF Format
Game #24: #18/#19 UNI at Drake
Wed., Feb. 10 - 7:05 p.m. (Central)
Knapp Center - Des Moines, Iowa
Radio: Panther Sports Network
TV: Mediacom Ch. 22/CFU Ch. 15
The No. 18/No. 19 ranked University of Northern Iowa men's basketball team (21-2 overall, 12-1 MVC) will travel to Des Moines to take on the Drake Bulldogs (11-14 overall, 6-7 MVC) on Wednesday. Tip is set for 7:05 p.m. in the Knapp Center. UNI scored a 67-51 victory over Drake on Jan. 27.
TIPPING OFF ...
• UNI will enter Wednesday's game at Drake ranked No. 18 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches' Poll and No. 19 in the Associated Press Top 25 Poll. UNI is also rated No. 13 in the latest NCAA Ratings Percentage Index rankings.
• UNI is among five teams in the country with two or fewer losses entering Wednesday's action. Syracuse (23-1), Kentucky (22-1), Kansas (22-1), Villanova (20-2) and UNI (21-2) are the five teams with two or fewer losses this season.
• UNI has posted a mark of 13-2 in road MVC games the past two seasons. UNI is 5-1 in Valley play this year on the road after posting an 8-1 record on the road in 2008-09. UNI's only road losses in the Valley the past two seasons have come at Wichita State. Overall this season, UNI is 8-1 on the road with a 10-2 record in road-neutral court games.
• UNI is ranked No. 2 in the nation in scoring defense. The Panthers are giving up 55.0 points per game this season and trail only Princeton (52.9).
• UNI's top seven scorers - Adam Koch (120 games), Jordan Eglseder (109), Kerwin Dunham (89), Kwadzo Ahelegbe (87), Lucas O'Rear (84), Ali Farokhmanesh (57) and Johnny Moran (55) - have played in a combined 601 career games heading into Wednesday's game at Drake. Those seven players have also accumulated 324 career starts for the Panthers.
• Senior forward Adam Koch has started 89 consecutive games. Junior point guard Kwadzo Ahelegbe has started 61 straight games. Senior guard Ali Farokhmanesh has started all 57 games he has played at UNI. Senior center Jordan Eglseder has started 36 straight contests.
• Senior Adam Koch (Ashwaubenon, Wis.) has been named one of 10 male finalists for the 2009-10 Lowe's Senior CLASS Award. To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence - classroom, character, community and competition.
SCOUTING DRAKE
The Drake Bulldogs will enter Wednesday's action with an overall record of 11-14 and 6-7 in the Missouri Valley Conference. The Bulldogs have dropped three of four games after posting a five-game win streak in January.
Drake has posted a mark of 7-6 at home this season, but have won four in a row at the Knapp Center. The Panthers have won three of the last four games against the Bulldogs in the Knapp Center.
The Bulldogs are led in scoring by senior Josh Young (14.0 points/game). Young became the Bulldogs' all-time leading scorer in Saturday's 71-68 loss at Illinois State.
Drake is coached by Mark Phelps.
PANTHER SPORTS RADIO NETWORK
UNI's men's basketball games can be heard on the Panther Sports Radio Network, with KXEL (1540 AM, Waterloo, Iowa) serving as flagship station. Affiliates include KGYM (1600 AM, Cedar Rapids), KCHA (95.9 FM and 1580 AM, Charles City), KXNO (1460 AM, Des Moines), KQCR (98.9 FM, Hampton), KQMG (95.3 FM, Independence), KRIB (1490 AM, Mason City), KILJ (105.5 FM, Mount Pleasant), KWQC (1570 AM, Webster City).
Long-time Panthers announcer Gary Rima handles play-by-play duties, while Kevin Boyle serves as analyst. Head coach Ben Jacobson's weekly radio call-in show will air on Thursdays, at 6:05 p.m., live from Beck's On The Hill in Cedar Falls.
PANTHERS-BULLDOGS ON TV
Wednesday's game between Drake and UNI will be broadcast live on Mediacom (Ch. 22) and Cedar Falls Utilities (Ch. 15) at 7:05 p.m. Larry Morgan (play-by-play) and Al Lorenzen (analyst) will call the action courtside at the Knapp Center.
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 be held on Tuesdays and began on Dec. 15, with a break over the Christmas holiday. UNI head coach Ben Jacobson is scheduled to be on at 10:51 a.m.
Media members wishing to participate should call 913-981-4900. The men's teleconference will take place on the following dates: December 15; January 5, 12, 19 and 26; February 2, 9, 16 and 23; and March 2. Contact Mike Kern at the Missouri Valley Conference office (314-421-0339) with any questions.
UNI GAMEDAY ONLINE
All of UNI's home 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. In addition, all Panther home men's basketball games have free live stats courtesy of GameTracker.
UNI-DRAKE SERIES HISTORY
The Panthers hold a 31-23 lead in the all-time servies vs. the Drake Bulldogs. UNI scored a 67-51 victory over Drake on Jan. 27 in the McLeod Center.
UNI has won three of the last four games played in the Knapp Center, including an 81-59 victory last year.
ROAD WARRIORS
UNI has posted a mark of 13-2 in road MVC games the past two seasons. UNI is 5-1 in Valley play this year on the road after posting an 8-1 record on the road in 2008-09. UNI's only road losses in the Valley the past two seasons have come at Wichita State. Overall this season, UNI is 8-1 on the road and 10-2 in road-neutral games.
HOME COOKIN'
The Panthers have won 12 straight games in the McLeod Center and are a perfect 11-0 at home this season. The 12-game win streak ranks as the nation's 17th-best current home win streak.
In the Division I era at UNI, the record for consecutive home wins is 14 set in the 1988-89 season. The Panthers won 20 in a row from 1961-65 to set the school record for consecutive home wins.
5TH-BEST CROWD IN MCLEOD HISTORY WATCHED PANTHERS-SALUKIS
The UNI-Southern Illinois game on Saturday was the fifth-highest attended game in the McLeod Center's history. UNI-Southern Illinois drew 6,839 fans to see the Panthers score a 55-52 win over the Salukis. Capacity is 6,650.
Listed below are the top-15 crowds in the McLeod Center's history:
7,293 vs. Drake Feb. 16, 2008
7,043 vs. Iowa Dec. 5, 2007
6,929 vs. Indiana State Jan. 20, 2007
6,877 vs. Creighton Jan. 12, 2007
6,839 vs. Southern Illinois Feb. 6, 2010
6,778 vs. Indiana State Jan. 16, 2010
6,731 vs. Southern Illinois Jan. 6, 2007
6,723 vs. Wichita State Feb. 3, 2010
6,616 vs. Missouri State Feb. 10, 2007
6,511 vs. Bradley Dec. 27, 2006
6,480 vs. Iowa Dec. 8, 2009
6,234 vs. Creighton Feb. 8, 2009
6,190 vs. Evansville Feb. 28, 2009
6,117 vs. Illinois State Feb. 24, 2007
6,108 vs. Wisconsin-Milwaukee Nov. 19, 2006*
* - 1st men's basketball game in McLeod Center
FIVE TEAMS WITH TWO OR FEWER LOSSES
UNI is among five teams in the country with two or fewer losses entering Wednesday's action. Syracuse (23-1), Kentucky (22-1), Kansas (22-1), Villanova (20-2) and UNI (21-2) are the five teams with two or fewer losses this season.
PANTHERS' BEST START IN MVC HISTORY
UNI's 12-1 start to Missouri Valley Conference play is the best in school history.UNI owns a three-game lead over Wichita State with five games remaining in league play.
UNI opened MVC play last season with an 11-1 mark and eventually captured a share of the MVC regular season crown last year finishing at 14-4.
PANTHERS MOVE UP TO #18 IN COACHES POLL, #19 IN AP POLL
The UNI men's basketball team moved up five spots in the latest Associated Press poll to No. 19. The Panthers also shot up four slots in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches' poll to No. 18.
The No. 18 and No. 19 rankings are the highest for UNI in the history of it's men's basketball program.
UNI IN THE NATIONAL POLLS
This marks the seventh time the UNI Panthers' men's basketball team has earned a spot in the national polls. UNI was ranked three times in the 2005-06 season with a high of No. 24 in the Jan. 30, 2006, USA Today Coaches' Poll.
UNI IN NATIONAL RANKINGS
Date of Poll Coaches AP
Jan. 30, 2006 24 25
Feb. 6, 2006 - 25
Feb. 20, 2006 - 25
Jan. 18, 2010 22 20
Jan. 25, 2010 25 -
Feb. 1, 2010 22 24
Feb. 8, 2010 18 19
PANTHERS RANKED #13 IN RPI
The UNI Panthers are ranked No. 13 in the latest NCAA Ratings Percentage Index (RPI).
Adam Koch REACHES 1,000-POINT MARK
Senior Adam Koch became the 31st player in UNI history to reach 1,000 career points when he notched 13 points against Indiana State on Jan. 16.
Koch also grabbed six rebounds to boost his career carom total to 500. He is one of 12 UNI players to tally 1,000 points and 500 rebounds.
UNI's 1,000-POINT/500-REBOUND CLUB
Player Points Rebounds
Jason Reese (1986-90) 2,033 773
Eric Coleman (2004-08) 1,522 997
Ron Lemons (1975-79) 1,478 760
Ken Huelman (1966-69) 1,275 818
Troy Muilenburg (1986-91) 1,251 599
Pete Spoden (1959-64) 1,239 1,104
Grant Stout (2003-2007) 1,232 920
Craig Kneppe (1963-66) 1,200 685
Cedrick McCullough (1988-92) 1,158 506
David Gruber (2001-04) 1,116 625
Adam Koch (2006-present) 1,076 528
John Martin (1967-70) 1,027 571
EGLSEDER CLOSING IN ON 1,000-POINT CLUB
Senior center Jordan Eglseder is poised to become the second Panther this season and 32nd overall reach the 1,000-point mark. Eglseder has posted 970 career points entering Wednesday's game at Drake.
KOCH'S LATE RUN PUSHES UNI PAST SIU, 55-52
Senior forward Adam Koch single-handedly carried the Panthers to a 55-52 win over Southern Illinois with a game-high 21 points.
With the Panthers trailing 47-42 with 3:11 left, Koch put the Panthers on his back and went on an 11-2 run of his own to give UNI a 53-49 lead with 22.5 seconds left. Koch hit two free throws with 3:11 left, then knocked down a 3-pointer with 2:27 left, before hitting a finger roll in the lane to knot the score at 49-49 with 1:44 remaining.
Koch stole an in-bounds pass with 1:17 left in the game and then drained two free throws with 54.1 seconds left to give the Panthers the lead at 51-49. Koch then rebounded a missed three-pointer by SIU's Kevin Dillard and was fouled after which he made his final two free throws of the 11-2 run.
Koch was credited with a career-high four steals in the win vs. the Salukis.
KWADZO CARRIES PANTHERS PAST SHOCKERS, 59-56
Junior point guard Kwadzo Ahelegbe picked up the Panthers in the second half of the Feb. 3 matchup with Wichita State and carried UNI to a 59-56 victory.
Ahelegbe had made 1-of-9 shots from the field and had just missed a pair of free throws with the Panthers trailing 38-36 with 11:17 remaining in the game. From that point on, Ahelegbe took over.
He scored UNI's next eight points to give the Panthers a 44-41 lead with 8:29 left in the game. Ahelegbe then hit back-to-back shots on possessions to give UNI a 53-46 lead with 4:00 remaining. He scored his final bucket of the game with 2:08, which capped a 15-point second half and an 18-point game overall.
7TH 20-WIN SEASON IN SCHOOL HISTORY
UNI clinched its seventh 20-win season in school history with its 59-56 win over Wichita State. The school record for wins in a season is 23 - set four times in 1963-64, 1989-90, 2005-06 and 2008-09.
UNI's 20-Win Seasons
1963-64 23-4
1989-90 23-9
2003-04 21-10
2004-05 21-11
2005-06 23-10
2008-09 23-11
2009-10 21-2
PANTHERS' TOP 7 SCORERS HAVE PLENTY OF EXPERIENCE
UNI's top seven scorers - Adam Koch (120 games), Jordan Eglseder (109), Kerwin Dunham (89), Kwadzo Ahelegbe (87), Lucas O'Rear (84), Ali Farokhmanesh (57) and Johnny Moran (55) - have played in a combined 601 career games heading into Wednesday's game at Drake. Those seven players have also accumulated 324 career starts for the Panthers.
SAME STARTERS VIRTUALLY EVERY TIME OUT
When it comes to experience in the starting five, it's tough to beat the UNI Panthers. Adam Koch, Kwadzo Ahelegbe, Ali Farokhmanesh, Jordan Eglseder have been in the starting lineup for 36 straight games.
Adam Koch has started 39 consecutive games. Ahelegbe has started 61 straight games. Farokhmanesh has started all 57 games he has played at UNI. Eglseder has started 36 straight contests.
DON'T OVERLOOK THE BENCH
The UNI Panthers have received a lot of attention for their starting five, but a major reason for the 21-2 start to the season can be attributed to the Panther bench.
UNI's bench came up big against Wichita State (Feb. 3) by helping to secure 18 of the Panthers' 35 rebounds vs. the Shockers. Lucas O'Rear grabbed nine rebounds, while Jake Koch snared a career-high eight boards in the victory.
The Jan. 30 Missouri State game showcased the Panthers' bench again as UNI tallied 20 bench points in the one-point victory over the Bears. Freshman Marc Sonnen tallied nine points, O'Rear chipped in with six points and Jake Koch knocked in five points.
Kerwin Dunham, who started for an injured Johnny Moran but normally comes off the bench, scored the game-winning layup with 41.6 seconds left against the Bears.
On the season, the UNI bench has provided 13.0 points per game and 12.7 rebounds per contest.
KOCH NAMED FINALIST FOR LOWE'S SENIOR CLASS AWARD
University of Northern Iowa senior Adam Koch (Ashwaubenon, Wis.) has been named one of 10 male finalists for the 2009-10 Lowe's Senior CLASS Award.
Twenty NCAA® men's and women's basketball student-athletes who excel both on and off the court were tabbed as finalists for the 2009-10 Lowe's Senior CLASS Award in the two basketball divisions.
To be eligible for the award, a student-athlete must be classified as an NCAA Division I senior and have notable achievements in four areas of excellence - classroom, character, community and competition.
An acronym for Celebrating Loyalty and Achievement for Staying in School, the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award focuses on the total student-athlete and encourages students to use their platform in athletics to make a positive impact as leaders in their communities. The finalists were chosen by a media committee from the list of 30 men's candidates and 30 women's candidates who were announced in October.
Nationwide balloting begins immediately to determine the winner. Lowe's, an official Corporate Partner of the NCAA, will announce the Senior CLASS Award winners during the 2010 NCAA Men's and Women's Final Fours in early April.
The 2009-10 men's finalists are: Matt Bouldin, Gonzaga University; Da'Sean Butler, West Virginia University; Marquis Hall, Lehigh University; Luke Harangody, University of Notre Dame; Damion James, University of Texas at Austin; Adam Koch, University of Northern Iowa; Chris Kramer, Purdue University; Raymar Morgan, Michigan State University; Jon Scheyer, Duke University; and Josh Young, Drake University.
The women's finalists for 2009-10 are: Jayne Appel, Stanford University; Amy Beggin, University of New Mexico; Joy Cheek, Duke University; Alysha Clark, Middle Tennessee State University; Tyra Grant, Pennsylvania State University; Kelsey Griffin, University of Nebraska, Lincoln; Allison Hightower, Louisiana State University; Ashley Houts, University of Georgia; Ashley Sweat, Kansas State University; and Bianca Thomas, University of Mississippi.
These 20 names will be placed on the Lowe's Senior CLASS Award basketball ballot for a nationwide vote beginning today and concluding March 22. Fan balloting will be available on the award's official Web site, http://www.seniorCLASSaward.com, as well as through text messaging. Fans can text MBBALL to 74567 to vote for men's finalists and WBBALL to 74567 to vote for women's finalists. These votes will be combined with votes from coaches and media to determine the recipient of the award.
UNI DRAWS OLD DOMINION FOR FEB. 19 BRACKETBUSTERS MATCHUP
The University of Northern Iowa men's basketball team will play the Old Dominion Monarchs on Feb. 19 at 6 p.m. in this year's BracketBusters matchup. The Panthers and Monarchs will battle on ESPN2HD/ESPN360.com in the McLeod Center.
ODU is 18-7 overall and 10-3 in the Colonial Athletic Association this season. The Monarchs posted a 61-57 win at No. 11 Georgetown on Dec. 19. ODU is coached by Blaine Taylor.
UNI and Old Dominion have met once before in the 1990 San Juan Shootout in Puerto Rico. The Monarchs scored a 63-61 victory over the Panthers on Nov. 23, 1990, to begin the 1990-91 season.
UNI in BracketBuster Games (4-3)
2003 - UNI 76, @Louisiana Tech 71 -- (TV)
2004 - UNI 82, @Wis.-Green Bay 75
2005 - @UNI 86, W. Michigan 75 -- (TV)
2006 - @UNI 65, Bucknell 61 (2OT) -- (TV)
2007 - Nevada 79, @UNI 64 -- (TV)
2008 - Illinois-Chicago 70, @UNI 58
2009 - @Siena 81, UNI 75 -- (TV)
UNI in BracketBuster Return Games (5-2)
2003-04 - @UNI 75, Louisiana Tech 72
2004-05 - @UNI 76, Wis,-Green Bay 65
2005-06 - UNI 69, @Western Michigan 63
2006-07 - UNI 57, @Bucknell 48
2007-08 - @Nevada 55, UNI 52
2008-09 - @Illinois-Chicago 84, UNI 77
2009-10 - @UNI 82, Siena 65
ROAD SUCCESS RANKS UNI AMONG NATION'S ELITE
UNI's eight road wins this season ranks as the third-highest total in the nation heading into this week's slate of games. Only Vermont (10-5), Morgan State (10-6) and Butler (9-1) have more road victories this season than the UNI Panthers.
UNI is 8-1 on the road this season.
LOCK-DOWN DEFENSE
UNI is ranked No. 2 in the nation in scoring defense. The Panthers are giving up 55.0 points per game this season and trail only Princeton (53.9) in the national standings.
The Panthers have held 10 of its 13 MVC opponents to 56 points or less this season. UNI is giving up 52.9 points per game in league action.
PANTHERS LIMIT THEIR TURNOVERS, FOULS AS WELL
UNI ranks No. 12 in the nation in fewest turnovers per game (10.9). Wisconsin leads the nation at 9.3 turnovers per game.
The Panthers rank No. 21 in the nation in fewest fouls per game (15.7). Mississippi State leads the nation at 14.0 fouls per game.
NEARLY AUTOMATIC AT THE LINE IN MVC PLAY
UNI is making a league-best 78.9 percent of its free throws in Missouri Valley Conference play.The Panthers have made 180-of-228 in 13 league games.
Adam Koch has made 65-of-73 (89.0 percent), Kerwin Dunham has made 13-of-15 (86.7 percent), Johnny Moran has made 17-of-20 (85.0 percent), Ali Farokhmanesh has made 15-of-18 (83.3 percent), and Jordan Eglseder has knocked in 28-of-36 (77.8 percent).
UNI is shooting 72.7 percent from the line through all 23 games.
IN THE CLUTCH
In the final five minutes of games, Jordan Eglseder is making 88.2 percent of his shots from the field (15-of-17).
Adam Koch is the Panthers' top free throw shooter in the final five minutes as he has drained 90.1 percent at the charity stripe (28-of-31).
Eglseder is the Panthers' top rebounder in the final five minutes with 16 caroms going his way.
Kerwin Dunham has tallied a team-high six assists in the final five minutes of games this season.
Kwadzo Ahelegbe has scored 51 points in the final five minutes to lead the squad. A. Koch has tallied 46 points in the final five minutes to rank second on the squad.
UNI FEATURED IN JAN 25 ISSUE OF SPORTS ILLUSTRATED
The University of Northern Iowa men's basketball team was featured in the Jan. 25 issue of Sports Illustrated.
SI Staff Writer Albert Chen took an in-depth look at the great balance the team has but also into the extremely unique way that Coach Ben Jacobson approaches the game.
Chen writes, "A typical team runs 15 to 20 plays during the season; the Panthers have more than 100. [Coach Ben] Jacobson tries to script the opening five to 10 minutes of a game. `Like a football team would do,' he says. `The other team takes away the dive [play], then you make your adjustment.' For the Panthers, keeping track of all the plays can be daunting, even for a starting five that includes three seniors. `Coach was a valedictorian in his high school,' says [senior guard Ali] Farokhmanesh, `so maybe he just assumes we can just memorize all of them.'"
The article is located on pg. 38-39 of the UNI weekly release.
PANTHERS IMPRESS OPPOSING HEAD COACHES
At least two of UNI's opposing head coaches believe the Panthers are a top-25 team - Wyoming's Heath Schroyer and Illinois State's Tim Jankovich. Both said so in their post-game press conferences following Panther victories this season.
"(The Panthers) are a top-25 team," Schroyer said. "They got the pieces you need - two post players, a point guard to run it and some wings to shoot the ball."
"I think (the Panthers) are a top-25 team," Jankovich said. "I'm telling you, NCAA-Tournament time they can control a game."
PANTHER SPORTS TALK WITH COACH JAKE
UNI head coach Ben Jacobson's weekly radio call-in show - Panther Sports Talk with Ben Jacobson - will be broadcast live on the Panther Sports Network every Thursday throughout the season.
The show will take place at Beck's on the Hill in Cedar Falls and will run from 6:05 p.m. - 7 p.m. and is hosted by the Voice of the Panthers, Gary Rima.
UNI ATHLETICS ON YOUTUBE
Looking for highlights, post-game comments and press conference coverage? Log on to UNI Athletics on YouTube for the latest video coverage of the Panthers - www.youtube.com/uniathletics.
The YouTube channel will show exclusive interviews with coaches and student-athletes along with other videos showcasing Panther pride.
FOLLOW THE PANTHERS ON FACEBOOK & TWITTER
Fans of UNI Athletics on Facebook and Twitter will have access to in-game updates, score recaps and special announcements.
UNI Athletics on Facebook will give fans the chance to connect with other Panther fans, as well as providing information on upcoming events. Followers on Twitter will be able to access up-to-the-minute score updates and news about the Panthers on their computer or mobile device.
FACEBOOK
www.facebook.com/UNIAthletics
TWITTER
www.twitter.com/UNIAthletics
|
|
 |
