Michigan State Welcomes Northern Iowa After Uelmen’s 27-Point Game

Northern Iowa visits the unbeaten Spartans at 7 p.m. EST, with Michigan State entering at 3-0 and the Panthers at 2-1. The matchup comes three days after Michigan State beat No. 2 Duke, 79-73. The Spartans have a road game against No. 11 Tennessee next.

Uelmen, a transfer from North Dakota, led Northern Iowa with 27 points in its 89-76 victory over Green Bay. He is averaging 19.7 points, 5.7 rebounds and four assists through three games. Carson Vis is scoring 17.3 points per game, while Isaiah Johnson-Arigu is averaging 15.3.

Northern Iowa has a new coach, Kyle Green, after Ben Jacobsen left for Utah State following 20 seasons with the Panthers. The current team has undergone a major roster change: all six players who averaged at least six points for last season’s NCAA Tournament team are gone.

The Panthers opened with a win over Cornell College, lost at Furman, then beat Green Bay. Michigan State’s recent form and Northern Iowa’s rebuilt roster set up a substantial challenge for the visitors, though the Spartans will need to sustain their focus after the Duke win. The listed spread has Michigan State favored by 28.5 points, with the total set at 154.5.