(St. Louis, MO) – Winning eight of your first games is good way to start and that’s what Missouri Valley teams did in the opening weekend of the college basketball season. Bradley is the only team to play more than one game and the Braves are perfect in their first two.
Southern Illinois is the one team that hasn’t played yet.
The Ray Giacoletti era began well for Drake. The former Gonzaga assistant and Utah head coach guided the Bulldogs to an opening win at Illinois Chicago. Richard Carter scored a career high 38 points in the two point win.
Indiana State won their home opener and dedicated a statue to Larry Bird outside Hulman Center. Four Sycamores reached double figures in scoring with Jake Odum scoring 17 and handing out seven assists. The Bird statue is 17 feet tall. “Larry Legend” averaged over 30 points and 13 rebounds in his three seasons in Terre Haute.
D.J. Balentine did his very best Colt Ryan imitation Friday night. The sophomore guard scored 29 points in the first game Evansville has had to play without their all-time leading scorer and Balentine set a career high in points and in assists with nine.
Other winners were Wichita State, Missouri State (in overtime) and newcomer Loyola. Northern Iowa and Illinois State lost their openers.
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The final pre-Christmas weekly all-stars of the @ValleyHoops & @OVCSports. With very rare exceptions, it's all about league play now for these leagues.
Now @DrakeBulldogsMB has moved into the top spot in @collegeinsider #midmajortop25 poll. @BradleyUMBB is 4th. @BelmontMBB is 17th.
.@SEMOMBB wins at home and is 2-0, tied with @MSUEaglesMBB atop the @OVCSports. Our prayers are with the @LRTrojans after the death of one of their managers Josh Claxton. Their game with EIU was postponed today.
Good officiating in the @SEMOMBB/@SIUEMBB in a little late game dust up.
