The University of Northern Iowa men’s basketball team tallied a 59-44 road victory over Missouri Valley Conference foe Illinois State on Saturday in front of a national ESPN2 audience. The victory moved the Panthers’ win streak to 13 in a row and improved UNI’s season record to 14-1 overall.
UNI also moved to 5-0 in MVC play for the first time in school history. Illinois State fell to 12-4 overall and 3-2 in the MVC. UNI will return home to the McLeod Center to take on the Bradley Braves on Tuesday at 8 p.m. The game will be televised nationally on ESPNU.
Also in Valley play, Drake ended snapped a six-game losing streak with a 70-65 come-from behind victory at Southern Illinois Saturday. Drake scored the game’s last eight points to earn its first Missouri Valley Conference victory.
It was the first time Drake has ever won back-to-back games in Carbondale in the series between the schools that dates back to 1976. Drake is now 6-11 and opens a two-game homestand playing host to Missouri State Tuesday and Illinois State Jan. 17.