Belmont, Evansville and UIC Get Started
(St. Louis, MO) – Two Missouri Valley Conference teams finish their multi-team events and three begin the Valley’s MTE second wave. Indiana State looks to become the MVC’s third MTE champion and Belmont, Evansville and Illinois Chicago are just getting started.
Northern Iowa hopes to salvage one win from its appearance in the Battle 4 Atlantis and Indiana State is hoping to sweep the Gulf Coast Classic.
Closing Out Their Events
High-scoring Indiana State faces Toledo in its final contest in Las Vegas. The Sycamores (4-1) have reached at least 90 points in all four of their wins and are seeking to join Missouri State and Bradley as MTE champions. Toledo (3-2) lost its first two games of the Ball Dawgs Classic and the Rockets face Indiana State at 1:00 pm.
Northern Iowa has played two outstanding first halves in the Battle 4 Atlantis and two disastrous second stanzas. UNI outscored North Carolina and Texas Tech 80-66 during their opening periods and have been overwhelmed 97 to 58 after intermission.
The Panthers face another ‘money conference’ team in tonight’s 7:30 contest. Ben Jacobson’s team takes on Stanford on ESPN+.
MTE Second Wave
Illinois Chicago begins play in the Baha Mar Hoops Nassau Championship. A formidable Middle Tennessee Blue Raider team awaits. UIC (3-1) has won three straight after a opening night respectable loss to Cincinnati. Middle Tennessee (3-2) is ranked 133 in the latest Kenpom computer rankings. Game time in Nassau is set for 3:30 pm.
Belmont begins play in the Cathedral of College Basketball Classic at 1 pm. The Bruins play three games in three days. After today’s game with Monmouth the 2-2 Bruins play Penn and then Lafayette. Belmont’s game with Monmouth (2-2) can be seen on ESPN+.
Undefeated Evansville is participating in the Coke Zero Sugar Classic. The Chattanooga-based tournament includes the hometown Mocs and Southeast Missouri. UE faces Chattanooga today and has a rematch with SEMO Saturday. The Redhawks then play the Mocs on Sunday. Both games begin at 1:00 pm and can be seen on ESPN+.
Valley teams are 14 and nine in these mid-season tournaments. The MTE second wave will determine if MVC teams improve on last year’s 17 and 17 record.
Do Good
Twitter Feed
Three more road wins so far in @ValleyHoops as @BradleyUMBB @BelmontMBB & @UIC_MBB capture road wins. Looks like @DrakeBulldogsMB will do so too. #FatherHarry
Well @RacersWBB followed the men's example and swept Iowa in the @ValleyHoops race! Racers are 6-1 & if @BelmontWBB holds on to their Iowa sweep, the Bruins and Racers will be tied for first. What a trip for those two teams! #FatherHarry
After today's action, @EIUWBB is 8-0 in @OVCSports play. 4 teams @usiwbb @TTUWBB @LRTrojans @LindenwoodWBB are tied at 6-2. Six other teams are under .500. Great race to the finish lies ahead. #FatherHarry
Really entertaining game between @BelmontMBB & @UEAthletics_MBB. Under four minutes left in a one point game. Gabriel Pozzato back in the Aces' lineup. Rogers is playing like I've expected. Triples are dropping. It's fun and @kylejpeach bringing it on #ThePlus #FatherHarry
