ST LOUIS – The Illinois State men's basketball team dropped its 2026 Arch Madness opener on Friday evening in the final quarterfinal game of the day at the tournament.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Panthers started hot, making their first four shots of the game, extending out to an early 10-2 lead before ISU scored the next six points on back-to-back Mason Klabo three-pointers. Northern Iowa extended the lead to as many as 10 points, before the Birds clawed back and trailed 35-27 at halftime.
UNI scored the first five points of the second half to extend out to a 13-point lead, and ISU played catch-up the rest of the way in the loss.