EVANSVILLE, Ind. - The University of Northern Iowa basketball team doesn't have anyone among the top 10 scoring leaders in the Missouri Valley Conference.

Still, going into today's 7:05 p.m. tilt at Evansville, the Panthers are first in the league in scoring offense for league contests at 73.6 points per game.

That's because Ben Jacobson's club has thrived on balance. All five Panther starters are averaging between 9.9 and 11.4 points per outing.

"Every night is usually a different guy stepping up," said forward Adam Koch, who was named the league's player of the week Monday after tallying 17.5 points, 10 rebounds and 4.5 assists in two wins last week. "That does make us really tough to prepare for right now.

"Guys aren't trying to go out and get their points first. It's about the team and winning."

In five Valley games, five players have led UNI (10-6, 4-1 MVC) in scoring.

Kwadzo Ahelegbe, Ali Farokhmanesh, Johnny Moran and Koch have all reached the 20-point plateau in conference play.

Currently, no other team in the league boasts more than three players in double figures.

UNI had four players tally double-digits in its wins over Creighton and Missouri State. The Panthers are shooting a robust 50.8 percent from the field in league play and 47.7 percent from the 3-point arc.

"It makes it a lot more fun," Moran said. "This is truly something special right now."

Jacobson said it speaks to his team's unselfishness and chemistry.

"It is guys gaining a better understanding and having a better handle of what they do best and where that fits with this team," he said. "We do have a group of guys that complement each other pretty well."

A year ago, the Panthers were ninth in the MVC in scoring offense (62.4 ppg.) and Eric Coleman was the lone player to average double figures at 12.3 points per game.

"This team is more versatile," Jacobson said. "Last year, we relied on throwing it inside to Eric or Jordan (Eglseder) or Jared (Josten) off the dribble. That's about it.

"We're able to score in some different ways now."

That will need to continue for the Panthers to remain atop the league standings. Starting tonight, UNI plays five of its next seven games on the road. Even though UNI has won four straight, Evansville (11-4, 3-2) is 10-0 at home. The Purple Aces' four losses are on the road against North Carolina, Butler, Illinois State and Southern Illinois - four teams with a combined record of 49-14.

"It's important mentally that we stay where we've been," Koch said. "With (classes) starting back up, we don't want to take a step back at all or have anything change."

Evansville has already surpassed last year's win total by two.

"Our intensity level has been better," head coach Marty Simmons said. "We're not a pretty team. We have to grind it out. When our guys have brought good intensity and really competed hard, we seem to play better."

UNI snapped long losing streaks at Southern Illinois and Creighton recently. Evansville will try to do the same. It has lost seven straight to UNI - now the longest active streak in the conference.

"If anything, hopefully we can learn from what we've done," Jacobson said. "Each game is a different game and each year is a different year."

TOUGH CALL? Jacobson said UNI recruited Evansville freshman guard Kaylon Williams of Cedar Rapids Kennedy, but didn't offer him a scholarship.

"We liked the way he played, but in recruiting you have to make tough decisions," he said. "You're working to find the best fit. We felt he was a good player.

"We really liked his ability to create plays. He competes very hard."

Williams is averaging 6.1 points and leads the Valley in assists for conference games at 6.2 per contest.

CLEAN SWEEP: In addition to Koch being named the MVC Player of the Week, Farokhmanesh was named the league's newcomer of the week. The UNI junior guard averaged 15.5 points and shot 60 percent from the field last week.

Contact Matt Coss at (319) 291-1468 or matt.coss@wcfcourier.com

GAME TRACKER

Men's basketball

Northern Iowa (10-6, 4-1)

at Evansville (11-4, 3-2)

When: Today, 7:05 p.m.

Where: Evansville, Ind. (Roberts Stadium)

TV: none

Radio: KXEL (1540 AM)

Line: Evansville by 4

RPI: UNI 124, Evansville 39

Last time out: UNI shot the second-best percentage in school history at 70.5 during a 78-64 home win over Missouri State Saturday. Evansville dropped a 70-63 decision at Southern Illinois.

Last meeting: Adam Koch had 20 points as the Panthers earned a 71-68 win over the Purple Aces last March in Evansville. UNI has won seven straight in the series, including three in a row at Roberts Stadium.

Need to know: The Aces are 10-0 at home this season, including victories over Western Kentucky, Drake and Missouri State. … Evansville starters Nate Garner and Kaylon Williams, combining for nearly 16 points and 11 rebounds per game, are from Cedar Rapids. … Forward Shy Ely, who leads the Valley in scoring at 17.5 points per game, has only been held under double figures once in 15 games. … Jason Holsinger is the Valley's career active leader in points (1,254) and 3-point goals (253). … UNI is shooting 49 percent from the 3-point arc in the last six games. Ali Farokhmanesh and Johnny Moran have made 31 of 56 attempts during that span.

Chalk talk: "The last four games we've done a good job of taking charges, working hard to get loose balls and working hard to rebound. Evansville does that as well, if not better, than anybody we've played to this point. It will be extremely important that we do a great job in those areas."

- UNI head coach Ben Jacobson

Starting lineups

Northern Iowa Ht. Yr. Ppg. Rpg.

Koch 6-8 Jr. 11.4 5.1

Eglseder 7-1 Jr. 10.6 6.5

Ahelegbe 6-2 So. 11.3 x-3.5

Moran 6-1 Fr. 9.9 3.9

Farokhmanesh 6-0 Jr. 10.5 1.9

Evansville Ht. Yr. Ppg. Rpg.

Garner 6-4 Sr. 9.7 6.5

Ely 6-4 Sr. 17.5 6.4

van Tongeren 6-11 So. 4.9 2.6

Williams 6-4 Fr. 6.1 x-4.5

Holsinger 5-11 Sr. 13.3 2.6

Next up: at Drake, 11 a.m. Saturday

- Compiled by Courier Sports Writer Matt Coss