The UNI men’s basketball team traveled to Kentucky for a matchup with Murray State on Monday, Feb. 17. The game was originally scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 16, but after power problems in Murray State’s arena, they had to move the game to Monday. They also changed locations, and played in Belmonts arena in Nashville. After all of the complications, it was game time, and the Panthers were looking to get their fifth win in a row. Murray State was on a little win streak of their own, looking for their third in a row. In the end, it was the Panthers that kept their winning streak alive, 74-67.

The first half showed both teams going back and forth. Neither team was able to make a substantial run, as it seemed as if when one team scored the other answered right away. The Panthers were led in a big way in the first half by Ben Schwieger with seven points, Trey Campbell with eleven, and Tytan Anderson with 10. Their solid first halves gave the Panthers a narrow lead going into the break, up 37-34.

The second half looked to show much of the same that we saw in the first, as the teams were trading baskets once again. This was until the score was 41-41 about four minutes into the half, when the Panthers went on the first big run of the night. Campbell got it started with his fourth three of the night, and they were quickly on a 9-0 run, up 50-41. The run helped the Panthers maintain a small lead throughout the rest of the game. The Panthers biggest lead only got up to 11 points for the Panthers, but they never let the Racers get any closer than within five points the rest of the way. The Panthers ended up getting the road victory, 74-67.

Leading the way for the Panthers was Anderson, who filled up the stat sheet. He had 19 points, seven rebounds, two assists, three steals and a block. Schwieger had himself a nice game as well, scoring 19 points, grabbing six rebounds and dishing out four assists. Leading all scorers on the night was Campbell, who had 21 points. 

The victory for the Panthers brings their record to 18-9 overall, and 12-4 in conference play. With only four conference games left, the Panthers find themselves in second place in the conference. They are just one game back from in-state rival Drake. 

The Panthers will be back on the hardwood in Kentucky once again on Wednesday, Feb. 19, when they face off with a tough Belmont team.