Wednesday, December 3rd, 9:05 p.m. (et)

FACTS & STATS: Site: McLeod Center (7,018) -- Cedar Falls, Iowa. Television: KFXA-Fox 28. Home Record: ISU 4-0, UNI 3-0. Away Record: ISU 0-1, UNI 0-1. Neutral Record: ISU 0-0, UNI 1-1. Conference Record: ISU 0-0, UNI 0-0. Series Record: Iowa State leads, 34-9.

GAME NOTES: Instate foes square off at the McLeod Center tonight, as the Iowa State Cyclones challenge the Northern Iowa Panthers in a non-conference showdown in Cedar Falls. The Cyclones enter the contest on a high note, as they defeated Mississippi Valley State, 77-59, on Saturday. It was a nice rebound for ISU, which was coming off its first loss of the year at Hawaii (60-59). The Cyclones, now at 4-1 overall, will open a two-game homestand up conclusion of this bout. As for UNI, it completed its say in the Chicago Invitational Challenge with a 67-61 besting of Auburn on Saturday. It was the second win in three games, as the team improved to 4-2 overall. The Panthers now return back home, where they have yet to be defeated, going a perfect 3-0 thus far. In terms of the all-time series, ISU holds a 34-9 advantage over UNI, but the Panthers have won the last two meetings and three of the last four overall.

The Cyclones shot 49.1 percent from the field and went 11-of-24 from beyond the arc, as they pulled away from MVSU on Saturday. The team won the battle on the glass, 36-31, and also forced 14 turnovers in the winning effort. Craig Brackins led the way with 20 points and five rebounds, while Wes Eikmeier chipped in 13 points off the bench. On the season, Brackins paces the squad in scoring at 16.2 ppg and he is also grabbing 4.2 rpg. Diante Garrett contributes 11.0 ppg and he has been in charge of setting up Brackins, dishing out a team-best 5.6 apg. As a team, ISU is handing out 16.8 apg and shooting 40.9 percent from three-point range, helping it to average 68.6 ppg.

The Panthers knocked down 53.7 percent of their attempts from the floor and 8- of-17 from long distance, as they downed Auburn on Saturday. The squad also did a decent job at the foul line, where it went 15-of-22 in the contest. Ali Farokhmanesh headed the charge with 14 points and four assists. Johnny Moran added 13 points, while Jordan Eglseder recorded a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds. On the season, Moran leads the team in scoring at 12.8 ppg and he is pulling down 5.5 rpg to rank third in that department. Eglseder is the squad's top rebounder with 6.8 rpg and he also contributes 11.7 ppg, while Adam Koch and Farokhmanesh chip in with 11.5 ppg and 10.0 ppg, respectively. Overall, UNI is turning in 67.2 ppg behind 45.5 percent shooting from the field this season.

UNI has played well on its floor this season and it should be able to continue that trend with another balanced effort tonight.

Predicted Outcome

Northern Iowa 66, Iowa State 61