UNI played their final road game of the season on Wednesday in Carbondale, Ill. as they played the Southern Illinois Salukis. UNI struggled to defend the onslaught of 3-pointers that the Salukis threw their way. The team could not find a way to get shots to fall, which ultimately hindered their ability to make any true progress. Starting guard Bowen Born was injured for the majority of the game, leaving the team without a crucial part of their offense. This was also the Panthers’ penultimate conference game this season. 

The Panthers struggled early from the field, missing all seven of their first shots. UNI’s defense did put on the pressure at the beginning of the game, although that would not remain the case. Tytan Anderson finally got something going for the Panthers as he went on a run of six straight points about a quarter into the first half. The defense started ramping up as well, shutting the Salukis out for four straight possessions while forcing three turnovers. 

The Panthers would attempt to get something ignited about halfway through the first half but it would be for naught. Southern Illinois began to bring the heat to UNI from beyond the arc. The Panthers were unable to stop them as the Salukis went 8-14 from three in the first half. This would continue to be a theme as the game progressed. UNI was trailing 34-23 as the first half came to a close.

UNI came out of the locker room aiming to get back into the game that the Salukis had controlled since the beginning of play. The Panthers would hit about half of the shots they attempted in the second half but the Salukis were one step ahead of them, shooting 63%. The Panthers dominated their opponents in the paint but the Salukis continued to fire from all cylinders from behind the arc. Southern Illinois made nine of their 17 attempted threes in the second half. This was the most three-point attempts that a team has made on the Panthers all season. The constant attack from the three-point line would be too much for the Panthers as they would go on to lose to Southern Illinois 86-63. 

Anderson was the leading scorer for the Panthers with 21 points, making it his second game with 20 or more points this season. Anderson also led the team in steals with four and had five rebounds. Landon Wolf followed Anderson with 17 points for UNI while also going a perfect 4-4 from the free throw line. James Betz collected the lone block for the team along with one steal. Ege Peksari led the team in assists with four. Trey Campbell had seven points for the team and Drew Daniel had five, rounding out the bulk of the scoring for UNI. This would move the Panthers to a record of 13-16 as well as a record of 9-10 in the conference. 

UNI concludes the regular season on Sunday, Feb. 26, hosting the Belmont Bruins. The Bruins are currently 13-6 in the Missouri Valley Conference.