Can It Get Any Crazier?

Injuries Mount & Valpo Leads the Way

(Palm Springs, CA) – The Missouri Valley Conference race is totally unpredictable. The question fans are asking is ‘Can it get any crazier?’ Tuesday’s games produced unique results and another round of injuries.

You can throw out all of your preconceived ideas.

Dana Ford’s First Valley Win

Missouri State hadn’t won a road game all season and marched into Terre Haute, Indiana and knocked off Indiana State 72-57.  The Bears handed first-year coach Dana Ford his first MVC victory and stopped a six-game road losing skid. The Sycamores were 8-and-4 heading into conference play but have lost three of their last four games.

Indiana State star Jordan Barnes committed more turnovers (7) than field goals (4) and is averaging 8.7 points per game in league play after averaging over 20 in non-conference action.

Darian DeVries’ First Valley Win

Drake handed first year coach Darian DeVries his first Valley win with an overwhelming first half against Southern Illinois. The Bulldogs led 43-22 and the break and won their first game since losing star guard Nick Norton to injury. The final was 82-70.

Noah Thomas scored a career high 24 points and Nick McGlynn recorded a double-double as Drake (12-4, 1-2) knocked SIU (9-7, 2-1) out of a first place tie. Ironically, the game marked the return of SIU leading scorer Armon Fletcher. The previously suspended senior scored 21 points in the defeat.

So Much for Loyola’s Momentum

After two impressive league wins, the Ramblers were outmatched at Evansville. The growing Purple Aces (8-8, 2-1) did the unlikely in making LUC look bad. The UE 67-48 victory was high-lighted by Evansville’s dominating defense. Loyola (9-7, 2-1) was averaging a league-best 19.5 assists per Valley game, but the Aces forced 17 turnovers and allowed the Ramblers just seven assists.

K.J. Riley led the Aces with 15 points, five rebounds and seven assists. The game marked the return of Loyola’s Lucas Williamson from a hand injury.

Good News/Bad News for Valpo

Valparaiso vaulted into first place in the Valley with a 61-50 victory over winless Bradley. The Crusaders (10-6, 3-0) dominated the boards (39 rebounds) and shared the ball (18 assists), but lost leading scorer Ryan Fazekas to a foot injury. He sat out most of the game with his foot in a boot.

Freshman Javon Freeman led the way with 17 points. Bradley has lost three straight games and five of their past six contests.

Redbirds Edge Northern Iowa

Milik Yarbrough scored 23 points and led Illinois State to their second straight win. Phil Fayne scored 19 points as the Redbirds (9-7, 2-1) edged Northern Iowa 70-to-69 while freshman A.J. Green scored 19 points for the Panthers. UNI (6-10, 1-2) witnessed the reimurgance of Tywhon Pickford (11 points, 5 rebounds and four assists), but they too sustained an injury. Miles Wentzien left the game with a leg injury.

Oddly, when we ask ‘Can it get any crazier?’ and then realize four of five home teams won, it seems less crazy.

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