The 18th ranked U.N.I. Panthers will try to take another step toward a Missouri Valley Conference championship and sweep the season series against Drake when the teams matchup in Des Moines on Wednesday night. The Panthers are 12-1 in the Valley race and are 21-2 overall.
Drake coach Mark Phelps says U.N.I. has a lot of momentum and has won by large margins and has also won close games recently. The Panthers won the first matchup in convincing fashion back on January 27th. Phelps says they didn’t play a great game last time and U.N.I. had a lot to do with that, as they don’t give you a lot of great looks at the basket.
The Bulldogs are 6-7 in the Valley after a pair of heartbreaking losses on the road but they have won their last four games at home. He says they are anxious to get home and continue playing good basketball.
U.N.I. coach Ben Jacobson says the Bulldogs have played at a higher level in the last month. Jacobson says the Bulldogs have gotten some good leadership from their veterans and they are playing good basketball.
During their four game winning streak at home Drake’s average margin of victory is 10 points. He says they’ve also played well on the road and says they’ve been in good position in the last 9 games.
The Bulldogs are 11-14 overall.