Bowen Born

CEDAR FALLS — The Northern Iowa men’s basketball team lost a second starter to the transfer portal with Tuesday’s news that Bowen Born had entered his name.

The Norwalk native averaged 13.3 points per game for the Panthers this season and has his COVID year of eligibility remaining after playing four years in Cedar Falls. He leaves the program after Nate Heise entered the transfer portal and committed to Iowa State.

Born announced his intentions on Instagram.

“As I graduate from UNI in May, I believe it is time for a change in my life,” Born wrote. “It’s incredibly hard to say goodbye to a program I’ve loved and given my all to these past four years, so it is with mixed emotions that I will be playing my last year of college basketball elsewhere. I’m proud to be a Panther and receive my degree from UNI.

“I will cherish my years in Cedar Falls forever. Thank you to everyone for making this part of my journey so special.”

Born also thanked UNI head coach Ben Jacobson, his teammates and the staff at UNI.

Born started 89 games during his career at UNI, including 63 over the previous two seasons, and compiled 1,486 points as a Panther. He earned all-Missouri Valley Conference Freshman team and Freshman of the Year honors in 2020-21 as well the 2021-22 Sixth Man of the Year award and an all-MVC second team honor in 2022-23.

Born averaged 12.5 points, 2.1 rebounds and 2.2 assists in 118 games in his career at UNI. He averaged a career-high 17.9 points and 2.7 rebounds per game in 2022-23.