The Northern Iowa men’s basketball team is heading to the 2026 NCAA Tournament after winning the Missouri Valley Conference. In the Missouri Valley Tournament, the Panthers defeated Evansville 68-59, Illinois State 74-52, Bradley 73-69, and UIC 84-69 in the championship game to clinch the auto-bid.
The Panthers are 23-12 overall this season and on a 5-game winning streak.
Northern Iowa NCAA Tournament Appearances
In 2026, Northern Iowa basketball will make its 9th appearance in the Division I NCAA Tournament.
The Panthers also reached the tourney in 1990, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2015, and 2016.
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Northern Iowa Basketball NCAA Tournament Wins
Northern Iowa has won five games in the Division I NCAA Tournament, defeating Missouri in 1990, UNLV and Kansas in 2010, Wyoming in 2015, and Texas in 2016.
The Panthers have a 5-8 overall record in the Big Dance.
Northern Iowa Sweet 16 Appearances
UNI has reached the Sweet 16 once, appearing in 2010. The Panthers beat No. 8 UNLV and No. 1 Kansas in the bracket before losing to No. 5 Michigan State.
Northern Iowa Basketball Coach Ben Jacobson
Ben Jacobson has led UNI since the 2006-07 season. He first arrived in Cedar Falls as an assistant coach in 2001.
Entering the 2026 NCAA Tournament, he holds a 397-257 overall record and has won the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament five times. The 2009-10 season saw a 30-5 overall record with a trip to the Sweet 16.
Jacobson is the program’s all-time wins leader, is a five-time MVC Coach of the Year, and is the league’s all-time winningest coach in conference wins.
He played college ball at the University of North Dakota from 1989 to 1993, ending his career as the school’s all-time assists leader.
