What's Up In The Missouri Valley 2/28/2019

The Morning Dish – Thursday, February 28, 2019--Hoopville

Side Dishes:
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The Missouri Valley race will come down to the final day, with both Drake and Loyola Chicago tied for the top spot. The Bulldogs handled Indiana State 80-68, while Loyola held off Northern Iowa 56-55. Missouri State fell out of a tie for the top spot with a 65-57 loss at Illinois State, but the Bears could still forge a three-way tie for the title at 11-7 if they beat Drake on Saturday and if Loyola would lose to Bradley. Which would probably be fitting for a league where the top seven are separated by two games and six of the 10 teams have overall records no more than two games above or below .500.
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The Cancun Challenge released its matchups for its 2019 event. As most tournaments lamely do now, this one also has what is essentially its A-List and B-List, and the A level (known as the Riviera Division) will have South Carolina against Wichita State and West Virginia versus Northern Iowa in the semifinals.

News, Notes, and Highlighted Games: Wednesday, Feb 27th--Hoops HD

UNDER THE RADAR
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-LOYOLA CHICAGO AT NORTHERN IOWA (Missouri Valley). Loyola Chicago is in a three way tie for first with Drake and Missouri State!! Which means….well…not a whole lot. The conference tournament is at a predetermined site, so all that’s really at stake is the color uniforms those teams will be wearing.

Yarbrough carries Illinois St. past Missouri St. 65-57--CBS Sports
Fletcher carries S. Illinois over Evansville 98-91--CBS Sports
Murphy lifts Drake over Indiana St. 80-68--CBS Sports
Kennell scores 20 to lead Bradley past Valparaiso 67-42--CBS Sports
Townes carries Loyola of Chicago over Northern Iowa 56-55--CBS Sports
Sweep And You’re In--Valley Hoops Insider

A dream come true at Bradley for the hometown kid--Peoria Journal Star
Braves Dominate Valpo on Senior Night, 67-42--bradleybraves.com

In beating Indiana State, Missouri Valley Conference title within reach for Drake--Des Moines Register
Men’s Basketball Remains On Top Of The Valley With a Senior Night Win Over Indiana State--godrakebulldogs.com

Women’s Basketball Set for Final Regular Season Road Trip--godrakebulldogs.com

Walter McCarty: UE basketball seniors 'set the blueprint' for future teams--Evansville Courier & Press
Clark Kent or Superman? Bruce Banner or Hulk? UE basketball still doesn't know | Hickey--Evansville Courier & Press
Aces stage another late rally by fall to SIU, 98-91--gopurpleaces.com
ACES INSIDER - UE Men stage massive rally before falling on Senior Night--gopurpleaces.com

Yarbrough, Redbirds hold off Missouri State for Valley win--The Pantagraph
Redbirds down MVC leader third time this season, 65-57--Vidette Online
Redbirds Close Out Home Floor with Win--goredbirds.com

Improving Koudelka, ISU women meet Loyola--The Pantagraph

ISU falls below .500 in loss at Drake--Terre Haute Tribune Star
Sycamores Fall To League Leading Drake--gosycamores.com

Loyola Hangs On for 56-55 Victory Over UNI--loyolaramblers.com

Thinking Big in Springfield, Missouri--The Catch and Shoot
Missouri State falls to Illinois State, needs help to win Valley--Springfield News-Leader
Missouri State could finish in first or fifth on Saturday. Here are the many scenarios.--Springfield News-Leader
Redbirds Hold Off Late Surge by Bears; Valley Showdown Set for Saturday--missouristatebears.com

Loyola hands UNI men's basketball another 1-point defeat
College men's basketball: Loyola holds off UNI--Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier
Men's Basketball Drops Sr. Night Game 56-55--unipanthers.com
Arch Madness All-Session Tickets Available--unipanthers.com

SIU Men's Basketball | Salukis secure regular-season sweep of Evansville--The Southern Illinoisan
SIU starts hot, fends off Evansville, 98-91--siusalukis.com

Southern’s big first half leads to win over Evansville Purple Aces--Daily Egyptian

Deep-sixed: Valparaiso locked into opening round of conference tournament after losing at Bradley--Post-Tribune
MEN'S BASKETBALL: With Fazekas likely out for rest of year, Valparaiso bottoms out in road loss--NWI Times
Valpo Struggles Offensively In Wednesday Loss at Bradley--valpoathletics.com