Evansville Purple Aces vs Northern Iowa Panthers Picks and Predictions for Thursday March 5 2026
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The Evansville Purple Aces face the Northern Iowa Panthers in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament First Round on Thursday March 5, 2026 at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis, Missouri. Tip-off is scheduled for 9:30 PM ET and the game will be broadcast on ESPN+. At the time of this writing the odds were not released for the moneyline, total, or spread. Be sure to also check out our free college basketball picks for more daily college basketball betting insights.
Purple Aces Searching for a Tournament Surprise
The Evansville Purple Aces enter the MVC Tournament with a 7-24 overall record and a 3-17 mark in Missouri Valley Conference play. Evansville has struggled for consistency this season and comes into this matchup with only one win in their last five games. The Purple Aces recently lost to Southern Illinois 81-67, lost to Belmont 98-64, lost to Murray State 88-75, and suffered a tough defeat against UIC 84-46. Their lone win during that stretch came in a close 80-79 victory over Valparaiso.
Evansville averages 67.2 points per game while allowing 76.7 points per contest. The Purple Aces shoot 43% from the field and average 31.2 rebounds per game while contributing 13.2 assists per contest.
One of the few positives for Evansville has been their defensive shot blocking. The Purple Aces average 3.4 blocks per game, which gives them the ability to disrupt opponents around the rim when their defense is locked in.
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Panthers Bringing Strong Defense into the Tournament
The Northern Iowa Panthers enter this matchup with a 19-12 overall record and an 11-9 conference record. Northern Iowa has been solid recently, recently defeating Drake 75-53 and also picking up wins over Indiana State 81-60 and Drake again 86-62. Their recent losses came in close games against Illinois State 71-69 and Southern Illinois 59-57.
Northern Iowa averages 69.3 points per game while allowing just 61.1 points per contest, one of the strongest defensive marks in the Missouri Valley Conference. The Panthers shoot 47% from the field while averaging 32.1 rebounds and 14.5 assists per game.
One of Northern Iowa’s biggest strengths is their defensive discipline. The Panthers consistently limit opponents’ scoring opportunities and force teams into difficult shots, which has helped them maintain one of the best defensive profiles in the conference.
Evansville Purple Aces vs Northern Iowa Panthers Pick
Purple Aces vs Panthers Pick
- Pick: Northern Iowa Panthers Spread
Northern Iowa appears to have a clear advantage in this matchup thanks to their defensive strength and overall consistency throughout the season. The Panthers allow just over 61 points per game and have already shown they can dominate weaker opponents. With Evansville struggling defensively and allowing over 76 points per contest, Northern Iowa should be able to control this game from start to finish.
Purple Aces vs Panthers Total Pick
- Pick: Take the Under
I like the under in this matchup because Northern Iowa typically slows games down and relies on strong defense to control the tempo. With Evansville averaging just over 67 points per game and facing one of the best defenses in the conference, scoring opportunities could be limited in this matchup.
Final Score Prediction: Northern Iowa 72, Evansville 58
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