Preview: Wichita State at Northern Iowa CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (Interstat) — A surging Northern Iowa squad will look to continue its strong start when it hosts a Wichita State team seeking consistency in a nonconference men’s basketball game Saturday at McLeod Center. The Panthers (7-1) have won seven of their first eight, with their lone loss a 63-60 road defeat at Tulsa on Nov. 26. They are coming off a dominant 99-34 victory over Coe College on Monday, where sophomore guard Geon Hutchins broke out with 18 points in 26 minutes. Hutchins, averaging just 3.4 points per game, will aim to build on that performance after playing limited minutes in the season’s first seven contests. The Shockers (5-4) have alternated wins and losses over their past six games. They routed Mt. Marty 95-69 on Tuesday behind 18 points from Michael Gray and 13 points and six assists from point guard Dre Kindell. Kindell, a key player to watch for Wichita State, has been variable, scoring 15 and 13 points in two wins but managing just 10 total points across three recent road losses. Northern Iowa’s resume includes a notable overtime win at UC Irvine and a 21-point victory at Loyola Chicago. Wichita State’s victories have come largely at home, with all four losses occurring on the road or at neutral sites, a trend they hope to reverse. This matchup serves as a final tune-up before both teams enter extended holiday breaks. Northern Iowa will host Oakland on Dec. 13, while Wichita State will host DePaul the same day. Tipoff is set for Saturday afternoon.