Illinois State Men’s Basketball Set to Take on UNI Panthers
Written by Kole Schipper on January 21, 2026
Image Courtesy of Illinois State Athletics
NORMAL, Ill.- The Illinois State Redbirds (13‑6, 5‑3 MVC) welcome the Northern Iowa Panthers (12‑7, 4‑4 MVC) in a key Missouri Valley Conference battle that could have league standings implications as both teams push toward the MVC postseason.
The Redbirds are coming off a big win over I‑74 rival Bradley and continue to build momentum here at home. ISU’s offense has been humming, averaging nearly 79 points per game, and the squad is firing on all cylinders after a strong showing in Saturday’s matchup.
Chase Walker has been a force for the Redbirds all season and was recently recognized as MVC player of the week, anchoring both ends of the floor with toughness and scoring prowess. This is Walker’s second MVC player of the week this season. Meanwhile, Johnny Kinziger continues to run the offense with precision, creating looks for his teammates and helping Illinois State maintain one of the more efficient attacks in the Valley.
On the other side, Northern Iowa comes to Normal looking to get back on track after a stretch of tough Valley games. Currently on a 4-game losing streak, the Panthers will look to bounce back on their 2nd straight road game before heading back home to Cedar Falls to take on MVC leader Murray State.
Tune in right here on 103.3 WZND where Jason Zaehler and Kole Schipper have the call with Ben Webster in the studio. The broadcast is set to start at 7:50, with tip-off scheduled for 8:00 p.m.
For all things Redbird basketball, be sure to stay tuned to wznd.com.
