UNI Win's The MVC

The Northern Iowa Panthers came into Missouri Valley Arch Madness tournament with a chip on their shoulders after suffering their worst loss of the season to Wichita State with the regular season conference tittle on the line. This snapped UNI's school record 16 game win streak. Many wondered how UNI would respond  after suffering the humiliating  14 point loss. Below is a recap of the MVC tournament.



Quarter Finals- After receiving a first round bye and being seeded 2nd, the Panthers faced the Bradley Braves in the Missouri Valley Conference tournament quarter finals. The Braves finished the regular season 9-24 and had just beaten Drake in the first round of the tournament. After a close first half the Panther's 44-21 in the second half and won 71-46. Nate Buss scored a season and game high 23 points to help fuel the Panthers second half rout, MVC player of year Seth Tuttle also had a strong game and recorded a double-double with 10 point and 11 rebounds,

Semi Finals- In the semifinals of the MVC tournament UNI faced the 6th seed  Loyola Ramblers. In the previous two meetings between these teams the Panthers won 67-58 and 58-39. On this meeting the Panther's used a well balanced offensive attack (which featured 3 players scoring in double figures) and suffocating defense to jump out to a 32-23 half time lead.  In the second half UNI's continued to pull away against the Ramblers and won 63-49. Seth Tuttle put up a team high 13 points to go along with 6 rebounds and 3 assists.

MVC Championship- In the Missouri Valley Conference Championship game UNI faced the
Illinois State Redbirds.  Illinois Sate was coming off an upset win against the number 1 seed Wichita State Shocker's. When the game started off it looked as if the Redbirds would continue their string of upset wins by jumping out to as high as an 18 point lead in the first half. At half time the Panther's could not get any thing going offensively and trailed 36-22. UNI was able to  get things clicking offensively after the half. The Panther's went on a 32-7 run and turned the 18 point deficit  and were able to turn it into a 7 point lead. UNI outscored Illinois State 47-24 and went to win 69-60. Seth Tuttle and Nate Buss lead the offensive out burst with 15 points a piece, This was UNI's fourth conference tittle in school history. After the game Seth Tuttle was named tournament player of the year.

After winning the MVC many are expecting UNI to be a 4 seed in the upcoming March Madness Tournament. Section Sunday is less than a week away on March 15th.