Primarily a collection of news links about all 11 Missouri Valley League teams on a daily basis, culled from online newspapers, school athletic websites, the conference website, and school newspapers, plus some other content from time to time.
Murray State cracks the top 10 with a 15-3 record and a perfect 7-0 start in
Missouri Valley play. The Racers are rolling, winners of 11 straight games,
and they made a loud statement with a 20-point blowout of Bradley.
This is a fast-paced team that can really score. Murray State ranks 25th
nationally in scoring at 87.9 points per game, and they rarely let teams get
comfortable defensively. Up next is a home game against Indiana State,
followed by tough road trips to Drake and Northern Iowa.
While the Mountain West and Atlantic 10 dominate the top 10 of this week’s
Men’s Other Top 25, the Missouri Valley has a couple of teams displaying
strong resumes just outside the top 10. Belmont jumped all the way from 22
to 11. Murray St. was one spot behind at 12.
The Bruins are 15-3 and have won seven of their last nine games with each
of the two losses coming by a single point. They sit 61st in
the NET, 65th in KenPom and 73rd in BartTorvik. It
is top-100 in both offensive and defensive efficiency, per KenPom.
The Racers are also 15-3 and are winners of 11 straight. They have wins
over George Washington, Akron and Bradley. Ryan Miller’s team is 60th
in the NET, 81st in KenPom and 87th in Torvik.
Sitting 2-2 in the first two quadrants, Murray is 13-1 in Quad 3 and 4
games.
Keep an eye on the Belmont at Murray St. game on Jan. 31.
Here is the full ranking:
Ranking
Team (First-Place Votes)
Points
Last Week
11
Belmont
58
22
12
Murray St.
49
12
23
Illinois St.
16
16
Others Receiving Votes:
Hawaii 11; South Florida 11; Buffalo 10;
Northern Iowa 8; Colorado St. 8; Charleston 6; UC San Diego 5; San Francisco 5; Stephen
F. Austin 3; East Tennessee St. 2; UC Irvine 2; Wyoming 1; Florida
Atlantic 1
Dropped from ranking:
UC San Diego – T-17;
Northern Iowa – 19; Colorado St. – T-20; Davidson – 23; Buffalo – 25
A team attempting to start three freshmen in the 2025-26 Missouri Valley
Conference and taste some success? Yeah, good luck, Flames.
That has been the theme throughout a difficult year at the school they call
"Circle Campus."
Now in its fourth season as a Valley member, UIC appeared to be headed
toward a sluggish rebuilding, bottom-feeding season. Which is still very
possible. But, for one week at least, this was a successful operation
against a couple of stiff tests.
The week began with the Flames ranked 205th in the ever-dependable Pomeroy
ratings and 0-4 in Valley play. Simply put, these guys were desperate to get
something rolling. Southern Illinois was visiting UIC, and this one was
defined by effort. The Flames largely controlled the glass, 39-27, and would
not allow SIU to get in a rhythm offensively, holding the Salukis to 29%
shooting from deep and forcing 15 turnovers. Impressively, UIC closed the
game out like an experienced program, going on an 8-0 run to finish with the
much-needed 70-57 victory. This went down as the fewest allowed points by
the Flames against a Division I opponent this season.
It was then time for the trip to Normal to play a veteran-laden Illinois
State squad, which is in the thick of the MVC race.
UIC carried its defensive energy and hustle with it on the bus. The Flames
stymied Illinois State, particularly star guard Johnny Kinziger. Kinziger
shot 2-14 in a home game, 1-9 from distance. Just a really forgettable day
for the All-MVC guard. Are the Flames out here creating rock fights suddenly
against the Valley's best?
Yes. This one landed in OT, where UIC
was able to secure a 63-59 win despite attempting half of the foul shots
(11) as ISU Red (22).
The 15 points from Abdul Momoh off the bench were a critical spark, and, as
pictured below, you'll see Momoh getting it done on the defensive end.
6-8 250 lb. Abdul Momoh (TR from Central Connecticut) won MVC Newcomer
of the Week for his major role in the upset win at Illinois State.
What does it all mean? UIC is just 2-4 in the Valley. The Flames are growing from game to
game. Check out the production of Freshman Andy Johnson; he's been effective
and shoots foul shots at 90%. RS Freshman Jayce Nathaniel is also steady and
is a Top 10 offensive rebounder in the Valley. This team is building around
its youth. Nearly every night in the league, they are facing an older team
with more payroll in the conference. This past week proved they can still
find ways to win. Congratulations to Rob Ehsan on his 100th win in the
massive upset in Normal.
HONORABLE MENTION: REMAINING CONFERENCE AWARDS
MISSOURI VALLEY EXTRA: BELMONT - Bruins had an improbable comeback to
knock off Drake. It's the biggest comeback in Belmont's D1 history! The
Bruins trailed by 25 points, 53-28, with 17:19 left, and ultimately Belmont
overcame 17 made threes from Drake in the historic road win, 78-76. Earlier
in the week, Belmont secured a mission-critical road win at Northern Iowa.
Bruins now rank as the best in shot selection, 3-pt %, 2-Pt %, and Blocked
shots squad in the Valley. At 5-2, all Valley goals are still within reach.
Scharnowskisparked an Iowa sweep as the Bruins won at Northern Iowa and at Drake. The
6’9 forward averaged 14 points, 9.5 rebounds, two assists and two steals,
making 13 of 14 shots he took in the Hawkeye State. After reaching
double-figures in scoring in three of the Bruins’ first seven games, this
week’s ‘Player of the Week’ has now accomplished the feat in eight of
the last nine contests.
First Time Newcomers
Illinois Chicago swept two State of Illinois rivals and Abdul Momoh was a
big part of those victories. The 6’8 forward averaged 11.5 points and five
boards, shooting .786 from the field. ‘Newcomer of the Week’ Momoh is
a defensive stopper and helped UIC hold both Southern Illinois and Illinois
State under 60 points.
Week Ten Freshmen
Murray State’s Roman Doman is the odds-on favorite to be the Valley’s ‘Freshman of the Year’ and he is this week’s ‘Freshman of the Week’. The 6’9 rookie
averaged 18.5 points and six rebounds as the Racers swept Valparaiso and
Evansville. This Domon’s third ‘Freshman’ honor and he is the
Valley’s freshman scoring leader.
Tonight’s Action
Tonight, there are three games in the Missouri Valley and one in Ohio Valley
Conference. UIC tries to add to its two-game win streak when they play
Northern Iowa who is trying to snap a two game skid. Valparaiso visits
Belmont and Evansville entertains Bradley.
Currie-Jelks has been very good so far this year, as she is scoring more
than 20 points a contest. Once Murray State entered conference play, she
elevated her game to a new level. She has scored 18+ points in all but one
conference game this season, and in the game that she didn't, she still put
up a double-double. Currie-Jelks has been a huge impact player for Murray
State, and there have been no signs of her slowing down.
Rob Ehsan – UIC (1/10/26). The Flames defeat No. 7 (Mid-Major)
Illinois State, 63-59 in overtime in Missouri Valley Conference action on
Saturday afternoon at CEFCU Arena in Normal, Ill. It was also a milestone
win for head coach Rob Ehsan, who earned his 100th career victory, and it also marked UIC’s third
consecutive road win at Illinois State, a first in program history. Watch
the locker room celebration
HERE.
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