Panthers knock off reigning NIT runners-up in road opener on game-winning three-point play in overtime.

IRVINE, Calif. (AP) — Trey Campbell scored 19 points to lead Northern Iowa, which included a three-point play with 0.6 seconds left overtime, and the Panthers beat UC Irvine 70-69 on Saturday.

Derin Saran made a layup to give UC Irvine a two-point lead with 6.8 seconds left. Campbell took the inbounds pass, weaved down the right side of the court and was fouled as he flipped a driving layup high off the glass before the and-1 free throw capped the scoring.

Campbell added five rebounds for the Panthers (5-0). Kyle Pock scored 14 points while shooting 5 for 10, including 4 for 7 from beyond the arc. Will Hornseth had 11 points and went 5 of 9 from the field.

The Anteaters (3-3) were led in scoring by Saran, who finished with 29 points, 10 rebounds and four assists. UC Irvine also got 17 points and six rebounds from Jurian Dixon. Kyle Evans also had 10 points, 10 rebounds, two steals and eight blocks.

Pock put up 11 points in the first half for Northern Iowa, which led 35-25 at the break. Campbell led Northern Iowa with eight second-half points and also hit the tying layup with 24 seconds left in regulation to send the game to overtime. Hornseth paced Northern Iowa with four points in the overtime.

ADDITIONAL NOTES

• UNI evens its all-time series with UC Irvine with its win on Saturday night, with one win a piece for both teams.
• The Panthers improve to 5-0 for the first time since winning the first five games of the 2019-20 season. It is also the third 5-0 start in the Jacobson era (2014-15, 2019-20, 2025-26) and only the sixth time doing so since transitioning to a Division I program.
• UNI’s victory was its first in overtime win since defeating Loyola-Chicago on Feb. 26, 2022 at home in a double overtime victory to clinch the Missouri Valley Conference’s (MVC) regular season title.
• Northern Iowa also picked up its first win in its road opener since the 2019-20 season at Northern Illinois.
• Trey Campbell sits just 20 points shy of becoming the latest member of UNI’s 1,000 career point club.

UP NEXT

The Panthers return to action on Tuesday, Nov. 25 when they take on Loyola-Chicago in their first game of the Acrisure Holiday Invitational in Palm Springs, California. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m. CT with live coverage available on ESPN+ and the Panther Sports Radio Network (93.5 The Mix).