Preview: Belmont Bruins at Northern Iowa Panthers CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (Interstat) — A pivotal early-season Missouri Valley Conference clash is set for Wednesday afternoon as the Belmont Bruins visit the Northern Iowa Panthers at McLeod Center. Both teams enter with impressive overall records and aspirations for the conference title. Belmont (13-3) looks to rebound from a narrow 68-67 home loss to Southern Illinois last Sunday. The Bruins had won five of their previous six, with the only blemish an overtime road loss at Indiana State. Northern Iowa (12-3) brings a three-game winning streak into the matchup, including a 62-48 road victory at Evansville on Sunday. The Panthers’ defense has been stifling, holding opponents under 50 points in two of their last three contests. The game features a compelling matchup at guard. Belmont’s Jabez Jenkins is coming off a 17-point performance against Southern Illinois and scored 18 in a win over Bradley last week. His scoring punch will be vital for the Bruins’ offense. Northern Iowa counters with versatile wing Ben Schwieger, who is averaging 12.4 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists over his last six games. He nearly posted a double-double with 14 points and eight rebounds against Evansville. His all-around play is a catalyst for the Panthers. Belmont’s offense, averaging over 80 points per game, will be tested by a Northern Iowa defense allowing just 60.2 points per contest during its current win streak. The Bruins have shown resilience on the road this season with wins at Evansville, UC Irvine and Toledo. The Panthers have been strong at home, with their only loss at McLeod Center coming in overtime to Wichita State on Dec. 6. This marks the first of two regular-season meetings between the teams. They will meet again in Nashville on Feb. 12. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. EST Wednesday.