Panthers MBB Tip-Off the Season This Sunday

The University of Northern Iowa men's basketball team will get its 2015-16 season underway Sunday, November 1. The Panthers play host to the Truman State University Bulldogs in an exhibition contest. Tip-off is slated for 5:00 PM in the McLeod Center.

UNI will enter the 2015-16 season riding an 18-game home-court winning streak – which ranks No. 12 in the nation among active home-court win streaks. The Panthers were a perfect 15-0 at home last season. The Panthers home-court streak will be tested early and often in non-conference play with home games against Colorado State (Nov. 14), Stephen F. Austin (Nov. 17) and North Carolina (Nov. 21).

Heading the list of returners for the Panthers are a trio of seniors in the backcourt in Matt Bohannon, Paul Jesperson and Wes Washpun.

Bohannon is closing in on the school record for made 3-pointers in a career. Bohannon enters the 2015-16 season having drained 175 3-pointers (Ben Jacobson set the mark of 203 from 2002-2006). Bohannon has started 72 career games (including 66 in a row heading into the 2015-16 season).

Washpun is the reigning MVC Sixth Man of the Year award winner having averaged 7.6 ppg last season. Washpun ranked second on the team in assists (91) and blocks (17), while ranking third on the squad in steals (34). Washpun earned honorable mention All-MVC honors in 2014-15.

Jesperson earned a spot on the MVC's All-Newcomer squad after averaging 5.9 ppg and shooting 48.3 percent from the field.

Junior guard Jeremy Morgan started all 35 games and averaged 5.8 ppg for the Panthers. He was also one of three Panthers honored on the MVC Scholar-Athlete team. Sophomore guard Wyatt Lohaus enjoyed a solid freshman season that saw him play in all 35 games, while averaging 3.8 ppg. Lohaus drained 47.2 percent of his 3-point shots and was an 85.2 percent shooter from the foul line.

Head coach Ben Jacobson is entering his 10th season at the helm of the Panther program having posted a career mark of 197-105. Jacobson is UNI's all-time coaching wins leader, having passed Hon "O.M." Nordly at the start of the 2014-15 season. Jacobson was named the 2014-15 MVC Coach of the Year, marking the third time that he has earned the league's top coaching honor. UNI has averaged 21.9 wins per season under Jacobson. He has guided UNI to three NCAA Tournaments and has posted a record of 3-3 in those appearances.