NASHVILLE, Tenn. (Interstat) — A surging Northern Iowa squad aims to hand Belmont a rare home loss and avenge an earlier defeat when the Panthers visit the Bruins in a key Missouri Valley Conference men’s basketball clash Thursday night. The game at Curb Events Center pits two teams on divergent trajectories. Belmont (22-4) boasts one of the nation’s top records but is coming off a 95-84 overtime road loss at Bradley on Monday, which snapped a six-game winning streak. Northern Iowa (16-9) has won three straight, including a dominant 89-60 road victory at Murray State on Monday, and four of its last five. The Bruins won the first meeting this season, 78-65, at Northern Iowa on Jan. 7. Belmont’s Drew Scharnowski was instrumental in that win and remains a focal point. The versatile forward is averaging 16.3 points, 5.3 assists and 2.0 blocks over his last three games, including a 19-point, 9-assist performance in a win over Murray State on Jan. 31. Northern Iowa will counter with guard Trey Campbell, who is playing his best basketball of the season. Campbell is averaging 20.3 points and 4.3 assists over the Panthers’ three-game win streak, highlighted by a 27-point effort against Murray State on Jan. 24 and a 22-point, 6-assist showing in Monday’s rematch with the Racers. Belmont’s potency at home, where they are 11-1 this season, presents a formidable challenge. Their high-scoring offense, which has topped 100 points twice in conference play, will test a Northern Iowa defense that has held its last three opponents under 61 points. For Northern Iowa, continuing its defensive intensity and finding consistent scoring beyond Campbell will be crucial. For Belmont, rebounding from its first loss in nearly a month and protecting its home court are top priorities. The outcome will carry significant weight in the tightly contested MVC standings as the regular season enters its final stretch.