Cedar Falls, IA (SportsNetwork. Brandon Fusco Falcons Jersey .com) - The top two teams in the Missouri Valley Conference are each shooting for their 20th win on the season, as the 18th- ranked Northern Iowa Panthers host the 12th-ranked Wichita State Shockers at the McLeod Center on Saturday afternoon. For UNI, which has won 13 straight home games, this is the first time it will compete in a contest where both programs are nationally ranked. Overall, the team has won eight consecutive outings and 10 of the last 11, with the lone defeat coming by three points (52-49) versus Evansville to start off the new year. The Panthers most recently took down Southern Illinois on Wednesday night in a 59-52 final on the road, giving them nine total wins away from home, which is tied for the second-most nationally. The program also moved to 8-1 in conference play, which left it behind only WSU in the MVC standings entering the weekend. Doing UNI one better in the consecutive wins department, the Shockers have ripped off nine straight and are undefeated in league play. The squad has won 15 of the last 16 outings overall, save for a Christmas Day setback to George Washington in the title game of the Diamond Head Classic in Hawaii. Also in action on Wednesday, WSU posted a 58-47 win over Loyola at home in order to remain on top in the league standings. Northern Iowa clings to a narrow 25-24 edge in the all-time series, although the Shockers have won six of the last seven matchups. The teams are also set to close out the regular season against each other four weeks from now in Kansas. The Shockers forced 16 turnovers and kept the Ramblers from producing a single double-digit scorer earlier this week in a double-digit home win. Fred VanVleet led the offensive attack for Wichita State with 27 points, shooting 10-of-16 from the floor, including 4-of-7 behind the 3-point line. Ron Baker chipped in with 16 points as he too shot the ball well beyond the arc (3- of-6). Had the game been any closer the Shockers might have been concerned with their 40.7 percent accuracy from the floor and mere 6-of-14 shooting at the free-throw line, but that wasnt the case. The MVC Preseason Player of the Year, VanVleet is one of three players scoring in double figures during conference play with his 11.0 ppg. He is shooting 52.3 percent from the field and is also a reliable source for offense at the free-throw line where he has made good on 81.5 percent of his attempts. In addition, the guard has issued 51 assists in nine starts, against only 14 turnovers. As a unit, the Shockers are turning the ball over less than eight times per game in conference, which goes a long way in providing the team with a scoring advantage of 16.7 ppg. UNI actually trailed at the half against the Salukis, but that was before the Panthers put together a 22-3 scoring run in the second half to assume control and capture the seven-point road win in Carbondale. Seth Tuttle produced a double-double for the visitors with 13 points and a game-high 10 rebounds, his scoring output matched by Paul Jesperson who converted 3-of-4 shots out on the perimeter and 5-of-6 from the floor overall. Nate Buss pitched in with 11 points off the bench for a squad that made good on 52.6 percent from the field and got away with just three offensive rebounds. When the Panthers are seeking a spark they almost always turn to Tuttle who, in conference play, leads the group in scoring (16.7 ppg), rebounding (7.4 rpg) and assists (26), leaving no stone unturned in an effort to keep the unit successful. Deon Mitchell (7.1 ppg) is the second-best scoring option believe it or not, thanks mostly to his 11-of-22 effort beyond the arc in those nine outings. However, as long as the Panthers are able to limit league foes to just 50.2 ppg on 35.6 percent shooting from the floor, the team wont need much more than Tuttle to get by. Deadrin Senat Jersey .C. - Phoenix Suns coach Jeff Hornacek says guard Goran Dragic will return to the starting lineup against the Charlotte Hornets after missing the last two games with a strained back. Calvin Ridley Jersey . Hattestad managed to avoid the carnage midway through the mens final, as a crash took out three skiers, essentially leaving two men vying for gold. The Norwegian posted a time of 3:38.39, outlasting Swedens Teodor Peterson, who took silver with a time of 3:39. http://www.falconsrookiestore.com/Falcons-Isaiah-Oliver-Jersey/ . "Weve given ourselves now a tougher task," said Carlyle after the Friday practice, the Toronto head coach notably chipper and upbeat throughout. "But the bottom line is we just have to win our share of games [and] not worry about what anybody else is doing. TORONTO, Ontario -- An eager group of 25 players broke camp Sunday and got ready to head overseas for final preparations for the world junior hockey championship. But only 22 will still be there when the tournament opens Dec. 26 in Malmo, Sweden. Coach Brent Sutter said the final cuts -- one defenceman and two forwards -- will be decided on many factors, including injuries. "Theyre not easy decisions, but the reality is weve got a couple-or-three guys banged up and were not exactly sure," said Sutter. "Hopefully they can skate when we get over there. "Whether theyll be ready for the first exhibition game, were not sure. All these guys deserve to be able to push to get on the team and theyre going to have a few more days to do so." The team will play three pre-tournament games -- Friday against Finland, Sunday against Sweden and the following day against Switzerland. Sutter hopes to make the cuts after the first exhibition game so he can use the full squad for the last two. The key question is high-scoring winger Jonathan Drouin, who is recovering from a concussion but who expects to resume skating when the team arrives in Sweden on Monday. Another is rushing defenceman Josh Morrissey, who has been nagged by an undisclosed injury for a month but who expects to be able to practise this week. "Theres a long time to Boxing Day and I guess it was nice to have a couple of days here to rest and work with the great staff at Hockey Canada in dealing with that problem," the Prince Albert Raiders rearguard and Winnipeg Jets prospect said. "I think in the next couple of days Ill be ready to go and back to 100 per cent." It may also be a nervy time for three so-called "underage" players in camp, 16-year-old Connor McDavid and the players listed by some as the top two prospects for the 2014 NHL draft -- forward Sam Reinhart and big defenceman Aaron Ekblad. The Canadian team rarely keeps more than one underager, but if there is ever to be three on one team it would be these ones. McDavid, a remarkable playmaker and scorer, is considered a shoo-in to go first overall in the 2015 draft. He and Ekblad are among only three players (along with John Tavares) ever to be granted "exceptional" status to enter the OHL at 15, a year earlier than other players. Reinhart is a scoring centre for the Kootenay Ice who has been captain of Canadian teams at age-group tournaments. And with the world juniors slated for Toronto and Montreal next year, one might think management will want to give them a taste of tthe tournament in Sweden to help them get ready to shine on home ice. Isaiah Oliver Jersey. . There are 11 players in camp eligible to return for the Toronto-Montreal event. Sutter has said players will make the team on merit regardless of their age, although he also values leadership and experience. He also wants a big team. "Were certainly going to be a younger team, but it doesnt bother me at all because theyre good players," the 51-year-old coach said. "Theyre the best. "But you need to have experience with that, too. Its nice to have those guys who have been in the tournament, understand it, know how it works -- everything thats involved in a tournament of this magnitude." He used all three youngsters liberally in a 3-0 victory over a group of local university players on Saturday. McDavid scored Canadas first goal. "Im not going to think about anything other than making this team," the Erie Otters star said. "I still have a long way to go." Sutter has had McDavid and Reinhart on the same line, as he did during a summer development camp, to build chemistry between them. "Hes an easy player to play with, so smart out there," Reinhart said of McDavid. "He creates so much offensively, hes smart defensively. He makes room for his linemates. Its definitely nice playing with him." Because Reinhart turned 18 in November, he can wear a normal visor instead of the full face cage McDavid and Ekblad are required under international rules to use. The six-foot-four Ekblad will be going to his ancestral homeland. His great-grandfather was Swedish. He likes that the coaching staff doesnt seem to hold his age, 17, against him. "But I still have to prove myself," the Barrie Colt rearguard said. "So does Connor and every guy at this camp. "Everyone has to prove they have some attribute that will help Team Canada win. Thats all that matters. Theyre giving everyone a fair chance. Theres a reason everyone is here." There remains a slim chance the team will get help from the NHL, although Sutter does not expect the Calgary Flames to free up centre Sean Monahan. The Toronto Maple Leafs have until the Dec. 19 NHL roster freeze to decide whether to loan defenceman Morgan Rielly. Either player, both under 20 and therefore eligible for the tournament, would be likely snapped up eagerly by the Canadian squad, even if it means another cut or two from the group in Sweden. "Im not putting any money on the table that were going to get anybody else," said Sutter. Cheap Jerseys China NFL Jerseys China NFL Jerseys Wholesale Discount Basketball Jerseys Cheap NHL Jerseys Authentic Cheap Baseball Jerseys Free Shipping Cheapest College Jerseys Sale Cheap Football Jerseys China Nike NFL Jerseys Canada Wholesale NHL Jerseys From China MLB Jerseys Outlet Canada Wholesale NBA Jerseys Canada Store Cheap Soccer Jerseys China Cheap Authentic Jerseys Canada ' ' '