McLean County Times

The Illinois State men's basketball team is set to face the Northern Iowa Panthers in Cedar Falls, Iowa. The game will take place at the McLeod Center with a tip-off scheduled for 5 p.m. on Saturday, February 8. The match will be broadcast on ESPNU and covered by the Illinois State Radio Network.

Illinois State enters the game with a three-game winning streak and has shown significant improvement over the past season. "Over the past 10 seasons in the NCAA, few schools have made a jump from one season to the next better than ISU," notes their recent performance. They currently rank seventh nationally in three-point field goal percentage.

Key players for Illinois State include Chase Walker, who draws an average of 8.0 fouls per 40 minutes played, and freshman Jack Daugherty, who has made 41 three-point baskets this season. Guards Johnny Kinziger and Malachi Poindexter are also notable for their high career free throw percentages.

Northern Iowa brings a two-game win streak into this matchup, having recently defeated Bradley and Missouri State. Jacob Hutson and Trey Campbell were top scorers in their latest victory against Missouri State. Tytan Anderson leads Northern Iowa with an average of 14.3 points per game.

Illinois State's depth is highlighted by strong performances across its lineup, with multiple players contributing significantly throughout the season. Their recruiting class for 2025 is ranked 60th nationally, featuring promising talents like Nick Allen and Isaac Ericksen.

In other news related to Illinois State basketball, Doug Collins was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame last October, marking a prestigious recognition for his contributions to basketball at various levels.

The upcoming rematch between Illinois State and Northern Iowa promises to be an engaging contest as both teams aim to extend their respective winning streaks.