CEDAR FALLS, Iowa — Tytan Anderson made a significant contribution to Northern Iowa’s victory over Belmont with 18 points in a thrilling matchup that concluded with a score of 76-70 on Wednesday evening.

Anderson’s performance included three steals, helping the Panthers improve their record to 9-5, including a perfect 3-0 in the Missouri Valley Conference. Alongside him, Leon Bond III showcased his talent by scoring 15 points on an impressive 7 of 11 shooting from the field, in addition to grabbing nine rebounds. Trey Campbell also played a pivotal role, finishing the night with 15 points after hitting 6 of 14 attempts, which included 1 of 5 from beyond the arc, and converting 2 of his 4 free-throw efforts.

On the other side of the court, the Bruins, who now hold a 9-5 record and a 1-2 mark in conference play, saw Jonathan Pierre leading the team’s scoring with 19 points and securing 11 rebounds. Carter Whitt was also instrumental for Belmont, contributing 17 points, nine rebounds, eight assists, and two steals. Meanwhile, Sam Orme chipped in with an additional 11 points.

In the first half, Campbell emerged as a key scorer for Northern Iowa, netting 11 points and helping his team to a 39-34 lead by halftime. The Panthers then intensified their pressure in the second half, extending their lead from six points to as much as fifteen after launching a 9-0 run, bringing the score to 54-39 with just over 11 minutes left in the game. Anderson notably added 10 points during the latter half, solidifying their advantage.

As they look ahead, both teams are set to compete again on Saturday. Northern Iowa will travel to Valparaiso, while Belmont will face off against UIC at home.