The Missouri Valley Conference has released the 2020-21 league basketball schedules for the UNI men and women.

Both teams are slated to play a full 18-game schedule, starting in late December. The UNI men open their conference slate at home against Missouri State on Dec. 30, and the women play at Illinois State on New Year's Eve.

The first MVC home game for the UNI women will be on Jan. 7, when the Panthers host Valparaiso at the McLeod Center. The league schedules are divided equally, with men and women both playing nine games at home and nine on the road. Times are yet to be determined.

The MVC men's basketball tournament, commonly known as Arch Madness, will take place Mar. 4-7 in the Enterprise Center in St. Louis. The MVC women's tournament -- Hoops In The Heartland -- returns to the Quad Cities on March 11-14 at the TaxSlayer Center in Moline, Ill.

Tanya Warren / Photo By: Elwin Huffman - Townsquare Media
Tanya Warren
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The UNI women are coming off a 2019-20 campaign that featured two program firsts in the same season: the Panthers beat three Power-Five schools and recorded wins over Iowa, Iowa State and Drake.

Coach Tanya Warren returns All-Conference players Karli Rucker and Megan Maahs for their senior season. Warren is entering her 24th season as the winningest coach in program history. She has a career record of 243-177.

The Panthers have been .500 or better in each of the last 12 seasons and finished with at least 17 wins each of the last 11 years.

Ben Jacobson / Photo By: Elwin Huffman - Townsquare Media
Ben Jacobson
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Head Coach Ben Jacobson enters his 15th season leading the men’s basketball team. He is also the program's all-time wins leader, boasting a 291-174 career record. Jacobson has guided the Panthers to four NCAA Tournament appearances and four NCAA victories. A four-time MVC Coach of the Year, Jacobson ranks fourth all-time in the MVC coaching victories and also ranks fifth in the league record book for MVC-only wins with 153.

The Panthers return the 2020 Larry Bird Player of the Year in junior AJ Green of Cedar Falls and fellow First Team All-MVC selection junior Austin Phyfe of Waverly. Trae Berhow landed on the MVC All-Improved team a season ago and returns for his senior season, as does 2018 MVC All-Freshman team member Tywhon Pickford.

UNI and athletic department officials continue to monitor the COVID-19 pandemic and plan to announcing game day and fan seating plans in the future. To renew basketball season tickets, CLICK HERE or call 319-273-4849.

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2020-21 UNI Men's Basketball Schedule - Missouri Valley Conference Games

DateOpponentPlace
Wed., Dec. 30Missouri StateCedar Falls, Iowa
Sun., Jan. 3at BradleyPeoria, Ill.
Wed., Jan. 6Illinois StateCedar Falls, Iowa
Sat., Jan. 9EvansvilleCedar Falls, Iowa
Wed., Jan. 13at Indiana StateTerre Haute, Ind.
Sun., Jan. 17at Southern IllinoisCarbondale, Ill.
Wed., Jan. 20BradleyCedar Falls, Iowa
Sat., Jan. 23ValparaisoCedar Falls, Iowa
Wed., Jan. 27at Missouri StateSpringfield, Mo.
Sat., Jan. 30at DrakeDes Moines, Iowa
Wed., Feb. 3Indiana StateCedar Falls, Iowa
Sat., Feb. 6LoyolaCedar Falls, Iowa
Wed., Feb. 10at EvansvilleEvansville, Ind.
Sun. Feb. 14DrakeCedar Falls, Iowa
Wed., Feb. 17at ValparaisoValparaiso, Ind.
Sat., Feb. 20at Illinois StateNormal, Ill.
Wed., Feb. 24Southern IllinoisCedar Falls, Iowa
Sat., Feb. 27LoyolaChicago, Ill.
March 4-7MVC Tournament - Arch MadnessSt. Louis

2020-21 UNI Women's Basketball Schedule - Missouri Valley Conference Games

DateOpponentPlace
Thu., Dec 31at Illinois StateNormal, Ill.
Sat., Jan. 2at BradleyPeoria, Ill.
Thu., Jan. 7ValparaisoCedar Falls, Iowa
Sat., Jan. 9LoyolaCedar Falls, Iowa
Fri., Jan. 15DrakeCedar Falls, Iowa
Fri., Jan. 22at Missouri StateSpringfield, Mo.
Sun., Jan 24at Southern IllinoisCarbondale, Ill.
Fri., Jan. 29Indiana StateCedar Falls, Iowa
Sun., Jan. 31EvansvilleCedar Falls, Iowa
Fri., Feb. 5at LoyolaChicago, Ill.
Sun., Feb. 7at ValparaisoValparaiso, Ind.
Fri., Feb. 12at DrakeDes Moines, Iowa
Fri., Feb. 19Southern IllinoisCedar Falls, Iowa
Sun., Feb. 21Missouri StateCedar Falls, Iowa
Fri., Feb. 26at EvansvilleEvansville, Ind.
Sun., Feb. 28at Indiana StateTerre Haute, Ind.
Thu., Mar. 4BradleyCedar Falls, Iowa
Sat., Mar. 6Illinois StateCedar Falls, Iowa
March 11-14Hoops in the HeartlandMoline, Ill. (Quad Cities)

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