CEDAR FALLS – Men’s basketball coach Greg McDermott received a gift from Northern Iowa on his first trip back to the school he coached last season – a watch.

An NCAA tournament watch, to be more precise.

McDermott and two of his assistants – Jeff Rutter and Ron Smith – were presented with watches given to those fortunate enough to coach a team to the NCAA tournament.

McDermott guided the Panthers to the postseason the past three seasons before taking the job at Iowa State in March.

After he had received the watch, McDermott smiled and hugged his best friend – new UNI coach Ben Jacobson – and took his new place on the ISU sideline.

The short pre-game ceremony took McDermott by surprise.

“I didn’t know they were going to present us with the watches from last year,” McDermott said. “That was a wonderful show of hospitality and generosity by [UNI Athletic Director] Rick [Hartzell] and Jake [Coach Jacobson]. We really appreciated that.

“This place means a lot to me. It always will.”

But once the ball went up, McDermott’s trip down memory lane was over, as the Panthers defeated the Cyclones, 70-57.

As the first half drew to a close, UNI guard Brooks McKowen drove to his right and hit a fade-away 3-pointer.

To McDermott, it looked like McKowen pushed off.

The coach ran out to center court, arguing the no-call. Jacobson went to center court too.

The two pleaded their case to the officials for a moment before walking off and into the locker room.

Halfway there, they both stopped, exchanged words and put their arm around the other’s shoulders.

“I was arguing with the official and he was trying to get me to quit arguing,” McDermott said. “He knew what I was doing, and he was trying to get me to stop.”

Two friends coaching against each other is always emotional.

The matchup was emotional for the Panthers as well.

McDermott brought McKowen to Northern Iowa, spending three years on the sideline as McKowen led his Panthers to the NCAA tournament in each.

Now McKowen’s first college coach sits on the other sideline.

“It was fun,” McKowen said.

“It was an exciting game for us. We’ve looked forward to playing those guys.”

After the game, the player and coach met at center court for a handshake.

Both left the conversation with a smile.

“He just congratulated me on a good start to the year,” McKowen said. “He told me to keep working hard and he expects a lot from us this year.”