CEDAR FALLS, Iowa (Interstat) — A pair of Missouri Valley Conference teams heading in opposite directions will meet Sunday when the Northern Iowa Panthers host the Drake Bulldogs at McLeod Center. Northern Iowa (16-10) enters the contest with momentum from a strong stretch, having won four of its last six games. The Panthers are coming off a narrow 91-86 road loss at Belmont on Thursday, a game in which standout Leon Bond scored 21 points. Bond has been a consistent offensive force, averaging 16.4 points over his last five outings and will be a primary focus for the Drake defense. Conversely, Drake (12-15) is mired in a five-game losing skid, most recently falling 80-70 at home to Illinois-Chicago on Thursday. During the slump, the Bulldogs have allowed an average of 85.4 points per game. Guard Eli Shetlar has been a bright spot, averaging 15.8 points over the last four contests, including a 17-point effort in the loss to UIC. The Panthers won the first meeting this season, 75-69, in Des Moines on Jan. 3. Sunday’s rematch offers Drake a chance to halt its slide and split the season series, while Northern Iowa looks to solidify its position in the upper tier of the conference standings. Defensive execution will be critical for the Bulldogs, who must find answers for Bond and a Northern Iowa attack that put up 89 points in a win at Murray State last week. For the Panthers, containing Shetlar and capitalizing on home court advantage are keys to avoiding an upset. Tip-off is set for Sunday afternoon in Cedar Falls. The teams are scheduled to conclude their regular-season series in Des Moines on March 1.