FACTS & STATS: Site: Rose Garden (20,000) -- Portland, Oregon. Television: CBS. NCAA Tournament Record: Northern Iowa 1-4, Purdue 29-22. Series Record: First-ever meeting.

GAME NOTES: Back in the NCAA Tournament for a 23rd year, the Purdue Boilermakers take their act to the Rose Garden in Portland this afternoon where they will contend with the Northern Iowa Panthers in the first round of the West Regional.

Considered the preseason favorite to take the Big Ten Conference this year, the fifth-seeded Boilermakers did just that with a 65-61 triumph over Ohio State in the tournament title game on Sunday. With the victory Purdue moved its record to 25-9 overall this season, thanks to tourney wins over Penn State and Illinois as well. If not for a pair of overtime conference losses to the Illini and Buckeyes during the regular season the Boilermakers could easily be a higher seed in this 71st annual event.

Meanwhile, the 12th-seeded Panthers were the top seed in their Missouri Valley Conference Tournament this season, but had a close call against Indiana State (73-69) in the quarterfinals, crushed Bradley (76-62) in the semifinals and then had to hold off Illinois State (60-57) in overtime for the championship. With five straight victories UNI enters the postseason with 23 on the season overall, tying the school record, matched as recently as 2005-06. In terms of the NCAA Tournament, this is the fifth trip for the Panthers, the fourth time since 2004, but the squad has just a single win to show for its efforts thus far on the big stage.

The winner of this first-ever matchup will be back in action on Saturday versus the winner of the Mississippi State/Washington encounter.

Kwadzo Ahelegbe and Adam Koch were both named to the Missouri Valley Conference All-Tournament Team as they put together strong efforts to get the Panthers further into the postseason. Ahelegbe was responsible for 19 points, five rebounds and three assists per outing during the three-game stretch, hitting half of his three-point tries and an impressive 83 percent at the charity stripe. Koch accounted for another 15.7 ppg, 6.0 rpg and two blocks per contest. Under the direction of MVC Coach of the Year Ben Jacobson, Koch averaged 12.7 ppg and 5.4 rpg for the entire season. Ali Farokhmanesh handled much of the team's three-point endeavors with his 40.4 percent accuracy out on the perimeter, on his way to 10.2 ppg. The Panthers relied heavily on their defense this season, limiting foes to just 40.6 percent shooting from the field and 61.3 ppg.

Although just a sophomore, JaJuan Johnson made enough of an impact with the Boilermakers this season that he was named to the All-Big Ten First Team for his efforts. During conference bouts Johnson led Purdue in both scoring and rebounding with averages of 13.8 points and 6.7 boards per contest. When it comes to overall numbers for the season, Johnson drops down to 13.2 points and 5.6 rebounds per game, which has him second in both departments. Ahead of him on the scoring list with E'Twaun Moore with his 13.9 ppg, stemming from just 42.8 percent shooting from the field, but he makes up for that lack of accuracy with 4.8 rpg and 103 assists (second on the squad). Robbie Hummel, who knocked down a number of key shots during the conference tournament, made good on 39.3 percent of his perimeter attempts, en route to 12.7 ppg for the Boilermakers, a team that limited opponents to just 38.9 percent shooting from the floor, 32.8 percent beyond the arc and 59.1 ppg as a result.

Having shown how well they can play in pressure situations, Ahelegbe and Koch could be the duo that makes the biggest difference in this contest.

Predicted Outcome

Northern Iowa 61, Purdue 57