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Northern Iowa has been everything the Bears have wanted to be this year — fun to watch, a top Missouri Valley Conference program and a team that can be a threat in the NCAA Tournament.
On Wednesday night, the Panthers showed how far away the Bears are from that dream.
Northern Iowa (18-3, 7-2) defeated Missouri State (10-12, 4-5) in a 95-66 matchup in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
Missouri State is now three games behind the MVC's lead with nine games remaining in the regular season. The team's second loss to Northern Iowa all but ended the Bears' hopes and dreams of winning the Valley for the first time since 2011.