The UNI men are the top seed in this week’s Missouri Valley Conference Tournament in St. Louis. The Panthers closed the season with a thrilling 102-96 overtime victory over Loyola to earn their second regular season Valley title in three years.

The Panthers overcame a slow start to the season that saw them open with a 4-7 record.

The Panthers play Friday at Noon against the winner of Thursday’s game between Illinois State and Indiana State. After finishing in a three-way tie for second Drake is seeded third and will open Friday night against Southern Illinois