The U.N.I. Panthers have built a big home court advantage in the McLeod Center and they hope that continues on Saturday night when they host Southern Illinois. The Panthers are unbeaten at home this season and the fans are responding. The last three home games have averaged more than 6,500 fans.

Coach Ben Jacobsen says the fans are really into the game and the team loves coming out of the tunnel to a packed arean. He says the students are helping provide a great atmosphere, which he says is as good as it has been in a couple of years.

The Panthers will try to use the home court to their advantage down the stretch. They play four of their final seven games at home.

Panther center Jordan Egelseder is enjoying his senior season and says the fans are big part of it. U.N.I. is 20-2 overall and ranked 24th in the latest AP poll.

Egelseder says all the seniors stayed on campus and continued working out and so far that work has paid off for them. U.N.I. is 11-1 in the Valley and has a three game lead in the standings. Jacobsen says the only thing his team needs to be concerned about right now is Southern Illinois.