2 MVC games Thursday, March 1

[Da Coach]

There are 2 MVC games today in the MVC Tournament in St. Louis-

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/scoreboard/_/group/18/date/20180301

#9 seed Northern Iowa vs. #8 seed Evansville at 6:00 PM CT- Northen Iowa favored by 2 points
#10 seed Valparaiso vs. #7 seed Missouri State at 8:30 PM CT- Missouri State favored by 3 points

Both games are on the MVC TV Network- NBCSports Chicago, FoxSports Midwest, FoxSports Indiana, and FoxSports Kansas City, as well as the FoxSports Go App. ESPN3.com will stream the games in areas not served by those cable networks.


Friday games-

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/scoreboard/_/group/18/date/20180302

[Da Coach]

Northern Iowa, the worst offensive team in the MVC, has not had too much trouble scoring early against Evansville. On the other hand, Evansville, the second worst offensive team in the MVC is struggling a bit.
With 8 minutes left in the first half, UNI is 4-7 from three and leads UE 18-12
Duane Gibson, who only averages 6 points per game, has 8 of Evansville's 12 points, while MVC leading scorer Ryan Taylor is scoreless so far.

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/boxscore?gameId=401020132

Tonight's games are on the MVC TV Network, including NBCSports Chicago, FoxSports Midwest, FoxSports Indiana, and FoxSports Kansas City, as well as the FoxSports Go App. ESPN3.com has the video stream of the games in areas not served by those cable networks.

[Da Coach]

UNI leads Evansville at halftime 31-24

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/boxscore?gameId=401020132

Canton HS's Hunter Rhodes has been the offensive star of the game so far for UNI with 8 points in the first half. Evansville continues to struggle offensively. Ryan Taylor is still scoreless, and Duane Gibson is keeping UE in the game with 12 points. Gibson is 5-6 from the floor, while the rest of the Evansville team is 6-20.

[Da Coach]

Northern Iowa beats Evansville 60-50-

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/boxscore?gameId=401020132

Ryan Taylor picked a bad time for his worst game as a Purple Ace, though a lot of credit goes to a constant double-teaming defense by UNI. Taylor was 1-13 for just 2 points. Dru Smith had 20, and Duane Gibson had 14. Hunter Rhodes had 14 for UNI, and Wyatt Lohaus had 15.
UNI advances to play Loyola at noon Friday in the game that precedes the Bradley-Drake game. No 8-9 seed has never beaten the #1 seed in the quarterfinals, but could this year be different? I think UNI will give Loyola a tough game.


Up next- #10 seed Valparaiso vs. #7 seed Missouri State

[Da Coach]

In the second game, Valparaiso played extremely well, shot 64% from three, and stayed close with Missouri the entire game, but could not overcome great games by MSU's seniors Alize Johnson and Jarrid Rhodes.
Missouri State wins 83-79
Johnson had 22 points and 19 rebounds for MSU. Jarrid Rhodes had 20 points.
For Valpo, Tevonn Walker had 25 points. MSU outrebounded Valpo 45-29.

http://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/boxscore?gameId=401020133

[bigjimmy]

UNI needs to make this game a grind it out low scoring one to have a chance against Loyola. I do question whether SIU can come back from getting spanked by Evansville this past Saturday. Plus Johnson looked a lot like the NBA prospect he's projected to be in MSU's game last night