UIC Flames and UNI Panthers Face Off in MVC Tournament Championship

The two teams meet in the 2026 Missouri Valley Conference Tournament final with a spot in the NCAA Tournament on the line.

Published on Mar. 8, 2026

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The Illinois-Chicago Flames and Northern Iowa Panthers are set to square off in the 2026 Missouri Valley Conference Tournament championship game on Saturday, March 8. UIC, the No. 5 seed, comes in with a 19-14 record after defeating Drake in the semifinals. Northern Iowa, the No. 6 seed, enters the matchup 22-12 overall following a semifinal win over Bradley. The winner of this game will earn an automatic bid to the 2026 NCAA Tournament.

Why it matters

This game represents a chance for both teams to secure a spot in the NCAA Tournament, one of the most prestigious events in college basketball. The MVC Tournament championship is a high-stakes affair, with the victor earning an automatic bid and the loser's season likely coming to an end.

The details

In their two regular-season meetings, each team won on the other's home court. Northern Iowa defeated UIC 60-54 in Chicago on Dec. 17, while the Flames returned the favor with a 69-61 win in Cedar Falls on Jan. 13. Now, the two squads will battle it out for the MVC title and a spot in the NCAA Tournament.

  • The game is scheduled to tip off at 11 a.m. CT on Saturday, March 8, 2026.
  • Northern Iowa most recently defeated Bradley 73-69 in the MVC Tournament semifinals on March 7.
  • UIC defeated Drake 72-51 in the other MVC Tournament semifinal on March 7.

The players

Rob Ehsan

Head coach of the UIC Flames men's basketball team.

Ahmad Henderson II

Guard for the UIC Flames.

Leon Bond III

Guard for the Northern Iowa Panthers, led the team with 19 points and 3 rebounds in the semifinal win over Bradley.

Rashund Washington Jr.

Guard for the UIC Flames, led the team with 23 points and 6 rebounds in the semifinal win over Drake.

Tristan Smith

Forward for the Northern Iowa Panthers.

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What they’re saying

“We must be ready for a tough battle against a very good UNI team. They've had our number in the regular season, but we're confident we can come out on top in the championship game.”

— Rob Ehsan, Head Coach, UIC Flames (thetelegraph.com)

“This is what we've been working towards all season long. We're excited for the opportunity to compete for the MVC title and earn a spot in the NCAA Tournament.”

— Leon Bond III, Guard, Northern Iowa Panthers (thetelegraph.com)

What’s next

The winner of the UIC Flames vs. Northern Iowa Panthers matchup will receive an automatic bid to the 2026 NCAA Tournament.

The takeaway

This MVC Tournament championship game features two teams that have had success against each other in the regular season, setting up an intriguing battle for the conference title and a spot in the NCAA Tournament. Both squads will be highly motivated to secure the automatic bid and continue their seasons on the national stage.