The Missouri Valley Conference championship game is heating up, with the automatic NCAA tournament bid hanging in the balance. On Sunday, March 8, 2026, the Northern Iowa Panthers (22-12) will face off against the UIC Flames (19-14) at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis. It’s a matchup that could determine who’s dancing among the big boys next month, and fans are already buzzing about this classic conference showdown.
If you’re planning to catch the action, mark your calendars: tip-off is at 12:00 PM Eastern Time, broadcast on CBS. For those who can’t watch live TV, Fubo offers a convenient live stream—sign up for a free trial to stream it without missing a beat. This game promises non-stop excitement, so grab your snacks and get ready for some hoops magic.
The Panthers, seeded sixth in the tournament, pulled off the upset of the tournament winner on Saturday by edging out second-seeded Bradley 73-69. They built a 15-point lead early in the second half before Bradley fought back valiantly. In the end, it was Leon Bond III’s clutch free throw with seven seconds to go that sealed it. Bond dropped 19 points, backed up by Trey Campbell’s all-around performance of 13 points, six assists, and four steals. It’s been a gritty run for UNI, showing their tournament toughness.
On the other side, fifth-seeded UIC dominated ninth-seeded Drake 72-51, cruising to victory in the second half after a strong start. Rashund Washington Jr. led the charge with 23 points, while Mekhi Lowery grabbed 12 points and 12 rebounds—a double-double beast mode—and Elijah Crawford chipped in 12 points. Notably, Drake had earlier demolished top-seeded Belmont in a rout on Friday, but couldn’t keep the momentum against the Flames.
During the regular season, these two rivals split their home-court wins: UNI took a 60-54 victory at UIC on December 17, and UIC flipped the script with a 69-61 win in Cedar Falls on January 13. Looking at the stats, UNI’s Trey Campbell averages 13.4 points, Leon Bond chips in 11.9 per game, and Tristan Smith snags 5.0 rebounds nightly. For UIC, Elijah Crawford scores 13.4 points on average, Ahmad Henderson II adds 12.1, and Mekhi Lowery tops the boards with 5.9 per outing. It’s a battle of balanced squads.
Don’t miss this edge-of-your-seat college basketball clash—it’s a must-watch for any fan of the game. To dive into wall-to-wall coverage, Fubo is your go-to for the biggest matchups from conferences across the country, including men’s and women’s hoops on channels like ABC, FOX, CBS, ESPN, and more. Start a free trial today and join the excitement. (Regional restrictions apply; if you sign up through our links, we may earn a commission.)
