UNI TAKES ON BRADLEY

Winners of six straight, the University of Northern Iowa (12-6, 6-1 Missouri Valley Conference) hosts Bradley (11-7, 5-2 MVC) on Jan. 21 at the McLeod Center. The Panthers are in sole possession of first place in the Valley, while the Braves are one game back, in a tie for second.

JUMP BALLS

UNI improved to 6-1 in the Missouri Valley Conference with its 81-59 win at Drake Jan. 17. That is the Panthers’ best-ever start to MVC play, since joining the league in the 1991-92 season.

The Panthers have won six straight games entering this Wednesday’s game with Bradley. Prior to the current six-game winning streak, the last time UNI won six in a row was in the 2006-07 season, Ben Jacobson’s first year at the helm of the program. UNI’s last seven-game winning streak was in the 2005-06 campaign.

UNI tied its season-best with 11 three-pointers in its 81-59 win at Drake Jan. 17. The Panthers also tied their season-high with 26 three-point attempts versus the Bulldogs.

UNI had 17 assists and just four turnovers in its win over Drake Jan. 17. The 17 assists tied its second-best team total of the season, and the four turnovers were the second fewest UNI had in a game this year.

UNI enters this week with all five starters averaging double-figures in scoring. The Panthers are led by guard Kwadzo Ahelegbe at 11.4 ppg, followed by forward Adam Koch (10.9 ppg), guard Ali Farokhmanesh (10.4), guard Johnny Moran (10.3) and center Jordan Eglseder (10.2).- UNI has won its first four Missouri Valley Conference road games of the year, the first time in its 18-year membership in the league that it has claimed wins in its first four league road tilts. The most road wins UNI has ever had in one Missouri Valley Conference season is five, in the 2005-06 season.

The Panthers defense has been outstanding lately. In fact, UNI has held six of its last eight opponents to less than 40 percent field goal shooting, keeping four of those teams to 55 points or less. In the team’s first 10 games of the season, UNI had held just one foe to less than 40 percent shooting, and only one team to less than 55 points.