Belmont Bruins (20-12, 13-8 MVC) vs. Northern Iowa Panthers (18-13, 12-8 MVC)
St. Louis; Friday, 3:30 p.m. EST
FANDUEL SPORTSBOOK LINE: Panthers -1.5; over/under is 153.5
BOTTOM LINE: Northern Iowa plays Belmont in the MVC Tournament.
The Panthers have gone 12-8 against MVC teams, with a 6-5 record in non-conference play. Northern Iowa is fifth in the MVC in team defense, allowing 70.6 points while holding opponents to 44.3% shooting.
The Bruins are 13-8 against MVC opponents. Belmont averages 78.4 points and has outscored opponents by 2.6 points per game.
Northern Iowa's average of 7.3 made 3-pointers per game is 1.0 fewer made shot on average than the 8.3 per game Belmont gives up. Belmont averages 9.2 made 3-pointers per game this season, 1.4 more made shots on average than the 7.8 per game Northern Iowa allows.
TOP PERFORMERS: Nate Heise is scoring 13.6 points per game and averaging 6.2 rebounds for the Panthers. Bowen Born is averaging 1.7 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
Ja'Kobi Gillespie is scoring 17.2 points per game and averaging 3.7 rebounds for the Bruins. Cade Tyson is averaging 3.2 made 3-pointers over the last 10 games.
LAST 10 GAMES: Panthers: 6-4, averaging 72.3 points, 33.9 rebounds, 12.7 assists, 6.2 steals and 3.3 blocks per game while shooting 45.4% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 70.4 points per game.
Bruins: 8-2, averaging 81.6 points, 37.0 rebounds, 16.5 assists, 6.3 steals and 3.4 blocks per game while shooting 48.8% from the field. Their opponents have averaged 70.7 points.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
