The UNI Panthers are on the road in Missouri Valley play to take on Southern Illinois. The Panthers are 7-8 in the league race and take on a Saluki team that has won 60 of its last 61 Valley home games.

UNI coach Ben Jacobsen says it’s a number that stands by itself without much comment. He says the Panthers need to try and match the Salukis on the defensive end.

Jacobsen says anytime you play SIU it is very difficult to get baskets because of the hard nose defense they play. Jacobsen says the Southern defense feeds off the home crowd as the crowd is very knowledgeable and knows the team is built on defense and toughness. UNI is 15-11 overall. Southern is 9-6 in the Valley and 14-12 overall.