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Missouri Valley Basketball Monday: Murray State in, Northern Iowa excels

By Harry Schroeder

Isiaih Mosley, of Missouri State, goes up for the shot during the Bears 78-73 loss to Drake at JQH Arena on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021.Bearsdrake23
Isiaih Mosley, of Missouri State, goes up for the shot during the Bears 78-73 loss to Drake at JQH Arena on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021.Bearsdrake23 /
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Missouri Valley Basketball Northern Iowa Panthers guard AJ Green Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Missouri Valley Basketball Northern Iowa Panthers guard AJ Green Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports /

Northern Iowa gets huge win over Missouri State

Northern Iowa was the 2020 regular-season champion and the preseason favorite last year. Guard A.J. Green was the league’s ‘Player of the Year’ in 2020. Green missed all but three games last season and endured surgeries on both hips.

UNI finished last season with a record of 10-15. Green is back and so is virtually every other Panther player from that championship team.

While Green is one of the best players to ever wear the purple and gold of UNI, he battled inconsistency and maybe confidence earlier this season. The Panthers lost three of their first four games and Green failed to reach double figures in scoring in two of those games.

An upset of then nationally ranked St. Bonaventure seemed to indicate the Panthers were finding themselves, but after splitting their next four games the Panthers stood at 4-7. Their last two losses occurred while the team battled the flu bug and resulted in a pair of two-point losses at the Diamond Head Classic.

Team health has returned and Ben Jacobson’s team has won three straight. They overwhelmed Evansville and Valparaiso at home and won a one-point game at Missouri State Saturday. UNI (7-7, 3-1) is the only Valley squad with three conference wins and Green has found his game. His 33-point performance was his 3rd 30-plus point game this season and the fifth of his career.

Noah Carter has become UNI’s second offensive option and has averaged 17 points per game during the current winning streak. While UNI averages just over 74 points per game, they have scored at least 83 points during each of the last three games.

UNI is back.