Northern Iowa Defeats Evansville 62-48 in NCAAB Clash
Sunday, January 4, 2026, 4:00 PM ET · Ford Center
Northern Iowa Panthers 62, Evansville Purple Aces 48, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won Northern Iowa Panthers vs Evansville Purple Aces?
Northern Iowa Panthers beat Evansville Purple Aces 62-48 at Ford Center on January 4, 2026.
Who was favored in Northern Iowa Panthers vs Evansville Purple Aces?
Northern Iowa Panthers were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -218 (about 69% implied). The favorite won.
In a decisive matchup, the Northern Iowa Panthers secured a 62-48 victory over the Evansville Purple Aces at the Ford Center. This game highlighted the contrasting fortunes of the two teams, with Northern Iowa continuing its strong season while Evansville struggled to find its footing.
Northern Iowa arrived at this game with a solid away record of 12-3, showcasing their ability to perform on the road. They had been in good form recently, winning seven of their last ten games, including a two-game winning streak. Their recent performance included a victory against the Indiana State Sycamores, where they won 75-66 on January 2, 2026. The Panthers averaged 69.6 points scored and allowed only 58.5 points in their last ten games, indicating a strong defensive effort combined with effective scoring.
On the other hand, Evansville faced significant challenges, holding a home record of 4-12 and having lost six consecutive games leading into this matchup. Their last ten games resulted in a disappointing 2-8 record, with an average of 65.0 points scored and 75.6 points allowed. Their most recent game ended in a loss against the Illinois State Redbirds, where they fell 47-73 on January 1, 2026. The Aces struggled particularly at home, where they managed only one win out of five in their last five games.
The previous meeting between these two teams occurred on January 15, 2025, where Northern Iowa also emerged victorious with a score of 73-56. This history added to the pressure on Evansville, who sought to break their losing streak against a team that had already proven superior in their earlier encounter.
In terms of injuries, the block did not specify any key players missing from either side, which meant both teams could field their strongest lineups. This factor often plays a crucial role in determining the outcome of such critical games.
As for the betting market, DraftKings set the odds with Northern Iowa favored by 4.5 points, reflecting their stronger season performance and recent form. The total points line was set at 131.5, indicating expectations for a relatively low-scoring game, consistent with both teams' recent scoring averages.
The game conditions at the Ford Center were typical for a winter evening, with a crowd eager to support the home team. However, the atmosphere quickly turned as Northern Iowa established control early in the game. The Panthers' defensive strategy effectively stifled Evansville's scoring opportunities, forcing them into difficult shots and limiting their offensive flow.
Throughout the game, viewers noted key moments that defined the outcome. In the second half, Will Hornseth made an important 8-foot jumper, extending Northern Iowa's lead to 59-41. Leif Moeller contributed with multiple free throws, showcasing the Panthers' ability to capitalize on fouls committed by Evansville. Despite a late push from the Aces, including layups from Joshua Hughes, they could not close the gap, and Northern Iowa maintained their lead to secure the win.
Overall, the game highlighted the stark contrast between the two programs this season, with Northern Iowa continuing to build momentum and Evansville searching for answers as they navigate a challenging stretch of games.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | UNI -4.5 | 131.5 o -105 / u -115 | Northern Iowa Panthers -218 · Evansville Purple Aces +180 |
Leaders
- PointsAJ Casey17Evansville Purple Aces
- AssistsLeif Moeller8Evansville Purple Aces
- ReboundsAJ Casey5Evansville Purple Aces
- PointsBen Schwieger14Northern Iowa Panthers
- AssistsTrey Campbell5Northern Iowa Panthers
- ReboundsBen Schwieger8Northern Iowa Panthers
Recent form
Evansville Purple Aces
Last 10: 2-8Streak L665 scored · 75.6 allowed per game1-4 at home
- L47-73at Illinois State RedbirdsJan 1
- L68-76at Bradley BravesDec 30
- L65-66vs Drake BulldogsDec 21
- L78-83vs Belmont BruinsDec 17
- L58-82at Notre Dame Fighting IrishDec 13
- L79-80at Western Kentucky HilltoppersDec 6
- W64-52vs Ball State CardinalsDec 4
- L59-78vs Charleston CougarsNov 24
- L59-97vs Akron ZipsNov 24
- W73-69at Oregon State BeaversNov 22
Northern Iowa Panthers
Last 10: 7-3Streak W269.6 scored · 58.5 allowed per game3-2 away
- W75-66vs Indiana State SycamoresJan 2
- W58-48vs Valparaiso BeaconsDec 30
- L58-63at Saint Mary's GaelsDec 23
- W60-54at UIC FlamesDec 17
- W75-63vs Oakland Golden GrizzliesDec 13
- L69-74vs Wichita State ShockersDec 7
- W99-34vs Coe KohawksDec 2
- L60-63at Tulsa Golden HurricaneNov 26
- W72-51at Loyola Chicago RamblersNov 25
- W70-69at UC Irvine AnteatersNov 23
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belmont | 26-6 | - | 16-4 |
| Bradley | 21-13 | 3 | 13-7 |
| Illinois State | 23-13 | 4 | 12-8 |
| Murray State | 20-13 | 4 | 12-8 |
| UIC | 19-16 | 4 | 12-8 |
| Northern Iowa | 23-13 | 5 | 11-9 |
| Valparaiso | 18-15 | 5 | 11-9 |
| Southern Illinois | 16-16 | 6 | 10-10 |
| Drake | 14-20 | 10 | 6-14 |
| Indiana State | 11-21 | 12 | 4-16 |
| Evansville | 7-25 | 13 | 3-17 |
Box score
| Stat | Northern Iowa Panthers | Evansville Purple Aces |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 22-48 | 19-45 |
| Field goal % | 46 | 42 |
| Three-pointers | 11-24 | 1-14 |
| Three-point % | 46 | 7 |
| Free throws | 7-11 | 9-13 |
| Free throw % | 64 | 69 |
| Rebounds | 33 | 25 |
| Offensive rebounds | 6 | 2 |
| Defensive rebounds | 27 | 23 |
| Assists | 15 | 12 |
| Steals | 10 | 8 |
| Blocks | 3 | 2 |
| Turnovers | 16 | 15 |
| Team turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 13 | 9 |
| Fast-break points | 2 | 2 |
| Points in the paint | 20 | 30 |
| Fouls | 16 | 12 |
| Largest lead | 20 | 0 |
| Lead changes | 0 | 0 |
| Time in front | 91 | 0 |
How the scoring went
- 1st Half29-14Trey Campbell makes 24-foot three point jumper (Ben Schwieger assists)
- 1st Half32-14Ismael Diouf makes 24-foot three point jumper (Ben Schwieger assists)
- 1st Half32-15AJ Casey makes free throw 1 of 2
- 1st Half32-16AJ Casey makes free throw 2 of 2
- 1st Half32-18Bryce Quinet makes 7-foot jumper
- 1st Half34-18Chase Courbat makes 13-foot jumper
- 2nd Half34-20Connor Turnbull makes layup (Leif Moeller assists)
- 2nd Half34-22Leif Moeller makes 14-foot jumper
- 2nd Half35-22Trey Campbell makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half36-22Trey Campbell makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half36-24Connor Turnbull makes layup (Joshua Hughes assists)
- 2nd Half38-24Ben Schwieger makes 4-foot jumper
- 2nd Half39-24Leon Bond III makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half40-24Leon Bond III makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half42-24Ben Schwieger makes layup (Max Weisbrod assists)
- 2nd Half44-24Trey Campbell makes 10-foot jumper
- 2nd Half44-26AJ Casey makes layup (Leif Moeller assists)
- 2nd Half44-27AJ Casey makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half46-27Will Hornseth makes layup (Ben Schwieger assists)
- 2nd Half46-29Connor Turnbull makes 3-foot dunk (Leif Moeller assists)
- 2nd Half46-31AJ Casey makes layup (Alex Hemenway assists)
- 2nd Half49-31Will Hornseth makes 25-foot three point jumper (Trey Campbell assists)
- 2nd Half49-32Connor Turnbull makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half49-33Connor Turnbull makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half52-33Ben Schwieger makes 23-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half52-35Bryce Quinet makes 5-foot jumper
- 2nd Half52-36Bryce Quinet makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half52-39Alex Hemenway makes 23-foot three point jumper (Leif Moeller assists)
- 2nd Half53-39Leon Bond III makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half54-39Leon Bond III makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half57-39Max Weisbrod makes 25-foot three point jumper (Will Hornseth assists)
- 2nd Half57-41AJ Casey makes layup (Bryce Quinet assists)
- 2nd Half59-41Will Hornseth makes 8-foot jumper (Max Weisbrod assists)
- 2nd Half59-42Leif Moeller makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half59-43Leif Moeller makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half59-44Leif Moeller makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half60-44Ben Schwieger makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half62-44Ben Schwieger makes 2-foot dunk (Max Weisbrod assists)
- 2nd Half62-46Joshua Hughes makes layup (Leif Moeller assists)
- 2nd Half62-48Joshua Hughes makes layup (Leif Moeller assists)
Win probability
Above the line favours Evansville Purple Aces, below favours Northern Iowa Panthers.
Venue
- Ford CenterEvansville, IN
- Attendance3717
- OfficialsGene Grimshaw, Ed Crenshaw Jr., Chance Moore
Elsewhere
- Carson Crawford, No. 46 in '27 class, commits to Arizona St.
- Tennessee's Ralph Scott to have knee surgery, out at least 6 months
- Men's NCAA basketball 2026-27 Way-Too-Early Top 25 rankings
- Transfers, recruits and roster moves for key men's NCAA basketball teams
- Michigan 5-star freshman Brandon McCoy Jr. (knee) to miss season
- With $6.5 million left on deal, UCLA fires AD Martin Jarmond
Picks for NCAAB
NCAAB rules and settlement
These two, other days
- Northern Iowa Tops Evansville in Close ContestMar 5, 2026
- Northern Iowa Defeats Evansville 71-55 at HomeJan 31, 2026