(St. Louis, MO) – Opening night is filled with jitters, hopeful expectations and flashing lights. Like a Broadway play, the opening night of conference play in a basketball season is the culmination of a lot of dress rehearsals (non-conference games). Finally, opening day has come and Wednesday night did not disappoint.
With four games on the curtain raising night, there was much to anticipate. Could Southern Illinois and Evansville keep their hot streaks alive? Has Illinois State found their proper rotation? Is Northern Iowa the team that beat two top five teams or something less?
Panthers Roll
Jeremy Morgan continued his emergence in the Northern Iowa lineup with his fourth straight double figure scoring feat, as UNI (9-5, 1-0) topped Bradley (2-12, 0-1) by the score of 80-44. He led five Panthers in double figures with 18 points. In his last four games the 6’5 junior has scored 13, 14, 19 and 18 points, raising his season scoring average to 11.7.
Streaking Aces
Evansville’s dominant second half led them to a 70-62 win over Indiana State. The Aces (12-2, 1-0) trailed by eight at the half, but outscored the Sycamores (6-7, 0-1) 42-26 in the second stanza. UE has won five straight games and were sparked by the play of their two star players. D. J. Balentine and Egidijus Mockevicius each scored 22 points. Mockevicius collecting his nation leading 12th double-double of the season by grabbing 16 rebounds.
Redbird Threes
Deontae Hawkins – goredbirds.com
Illinois State was draining second half three pointers and the Redbirds defeated Missouri State 74-61. Sophomore Deontae Hawkins made all five of his shots from deep including four of them in the decisive period of the second half. ISU (7-7, 1-0) connected on 15 of 27 triple attempts. Junior Dequon Miller racked up his second straight 17 point night for the Bears (4-9, 0-1).
Road Dawgs
Southern Illinois won its fifth true road game of the season defeating Loyola 72-62 in Chicago. SIU (12-2, 1-0) is now 5-0 on the road after winning just two road games all last season. Anthony Beane led the way with 26 points while converting on four of five three point attempts and eight of nine from the charity stripe. Milton Doyle led Loyola (7-6, 0-1) with 17 points.
Drake visits Wichita State New Year’s Eve Day.
Do Good
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Flooding, lightning strikes, etc. have cost @RacersHoops two home games. Had to play 'neutral site' tonight instead of at home and Wednesday's goes from home to away. Tough break for the Racers, and the whole area has been hit with difficulties. #FatherHarry
Murray State's scheduled home game Wednesday vs. Southern Illinois being moved to Banterra Center in Carbondale. #ValleyHoops
Gigantic game for @BradleyUMBB today in Des Moines. If they have a chance to catch @DrakeBulldogsMB, they have to win today. The Bulldogs can basically win the title today. @BustingBrackets breaks it all down. #FatherHarry https://bit.ly/3EGiVgi
Not rooting for any particular @ValleyHoops, but chaos is always fun. If things break certain ways, after today there could be a six-way tie for fifth place.
Fun to listen to @MLBLarry on the @SIU_Basketball/@BelmontMBB game tonight. Good job brother. #FatherHarry
