Northern Iowa coach Ben Jacobson says defense will be a key on Thursday night when the sixth seeded Panthers take on 11th seeded Evansville at the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament in St. Louis. The Panthers beat the Aces twice in convincing fashion during the regular season.

Evansville finished the regular season 7-24 but Jacobson feels they have made progress at the end of the season.

Evansville coach David Ragland on the challenge UNI provides.

Ragland says the Aces need to find a way to solve the UNI defense.