CEDAR FALLS - Eric Coleman labels it the "danger zone."

Anything inside 12 feet of the basket is a restricted area for opponents of the Northern Iowa basketball team.

So far this season, it has resulted in a lopsided advantage for UNI on the backboards.

Heading into tonight's game against Loyola-Chicago, the Panthers have out-rebounded all six opponents and own the top rebounding margin in the Missouri Valley Conference at plus-10.7.

Coleman leads the Valley, averaging 9.3 caroms per game. Jordan Eglseder is third at 8.5, and Adam Koch ranks fifth at 8.2 rebounds a contest.

"Can we continue to do that? That's the challenge," UNI head coach Ben Jacobson said. "The guys inside have done a nice job with that, and that has to be there for us every single night.

"If we can have an advantage in that area every night, we've got a lot better chance to win."

UNI had the league's top two rebounders last season in Coleman and Grant Stout. Still, it only had a plus-3 margin for the season and only out-rebounded five opponents by 10 or more. In six games, the Panthers have already accomplished that four times.

"We lost so much with Stout there, but Jordan and Koch have picked it up and done a nice job," Coleman said.

UNI (5-1) has made a more concerted effort to increase its production on the offensive glass, averaging nearly 10 per contest. Instead of two interior players attacking the glass like they have in past seasons, the Panthers are sending a third this year in Travis Brown.

It has led to several second-chance opportunities - something beneficial for a squad still searching for consistency with its 3-point shot.

"If you don't have it going from the outside, the easiest way to get to the line or an easy basket is crashing the boards," Coleman said.

At 7-foot-1, Eglseder banks on his size, while Coleman, Koch and Lucas O'Rear are undersized but active.

"It's about mentality," Eglseder said, "just knowing you want to go get that ball. You've just got to think every rebound is going to be yours."

While Jacobson is pleased, he's not satisfied. He'd like to see more rebounds out of his backcourt. Jared Josten is the only guard averaging more than three caroms a game.

"I think our guards can get better, in terms of blocking out and helping our big guys out," Jacobson said.

"Each game is going to get harder to have those type of numbers because other teams are looking at those same numbers. We have to continue to get better, and the guys have to get more active and aggressive.

"Normally, it tells the tale of who wins the game."

Reed back practicing

Carlton Reed returned to practice Thursday, and the results were positive.

"I'm better than I thought I'd be," said Reed, who has been sidelined for the past five weeks with a broken bone in his left foot. "There wasn't as much pain as I thought there would be, and afterwards, it didn't feel bad, either. That's a good sign."

Jacobson said the 6-4 Waterloo East alum won't play tonight against Loyola but is likely to play Wednesday against Iowa - the school he transferred from in the spring of 2006.

"If he practices (Friday) and the days prior to the Iowa game and feels really good, there's a chance we'll see him Wednesday," Jacobson said. "If there are any signs of him needing some more time, we won't see him."

After the Iowa game, UNI is off for 10 days before hosting Wartburg on Dec. 15.

"That extra time is invaluable for healing," Reed said. "I know I won't be 100 percent come Iowa, but I'll be pretty close. The extra 10 days, I could get up to 100 percent and be full speed out there."

Scouting the Ramblers

Loyola-Chicago, picked to finish fifth in the 10-team Horizon League, has dropped three straight - its longest skid since January 2006. The second half has been a sore spot for the Ramblers, who have been outscored 85-43 in that span the past two games against Purdue and Bradley. In the loss to Bradley, Loyola had six assists versus 21 turnovers.

Guard J.R. Blount, who scored 17 points in last year's win over UNI, is averaging a team-best 18.4 per game.

"He's a hard guy to stop because he makes just enough 3s you have to go out there to really guard him," Jacobson said. "As soon as you get close to him, he's able to get by you and get to the basket."

This is the last meeting between the teams in the four-year series.

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

GAME TRACKER

Men's basketball

Loyola-Chicago (2-3) at

Northern Iowa (5-1)

- When: Today, 7:05 p.m.

- Where: McLeod Center, Cedar Falls

- TV: CFU (channel 17)

- Radio: KXEL (1540-AM)

- Series: UNI leads 4-1, but Loyola won last year in Chicago, 76-67.

- Last time out: Loyola dropped a 64-47 decision at home to Bradley on Wednesday, while Jared Josten had a career-high 20 points in UNI's 61-48 win over Iowa State on Tuesday.

- Next up: UNI plays host to Iowa at 8:05 p.m. Wednesday in the McLeod.

Starting lineups

Loyola-Chicago

Name Ht. Yr. Ppg. Rpg.

Andy Polka 6-7 So. 7.0 6.0

Tracy Robinson 6-7 Sr. 9.0 3.0

Ross Forman 6-8 So. 9.0 4.4

Leon Young 6-6 Jr. 9.2 5.6

J.R. Blount 6-1 Jr. 18.4 2.2

Northern Iowa

Name Ht. Yr. Ppg. Rpg.

Adam Koch 6-8 So. 7.8 8.2

Kerwin Dunham 6-6 Fr. 6.2 0.8

Jordan Eglseder 7-1 So. 12.2 8.5

Travis Brown 6-3 Jr. 7.2 1.7

Jared Josten 5-11 Sr. 14.3 3.5