The UNI basketball team will close out the home portion of their schedule tonight with a match-up against Southern Illinois. The Panthers are currently in a four-way tie for third place in the Missouri Valley standings, and UNI coach Ben Jacobson says they need to try to keep pace against an improving Saluki team.

UNI dropped a two-point decision in their first game against Southern Illinois nearly six weeks ago. Jacobson says that in the time between their meetings, the Salukis have had a young big man step up into a much larger role. Jacobson says that Southern will present some challenges for the Panther defense.

Tonight’s game at the McLeod Center tips off at 7:00.