5 MVC games Wednesday, January 1, 2025

[Da Coach]

There are 5 MVC league games being played Wednesday, Jan. 1 - https://www.espn.com/mens-college-ba...50101/group/18

SIU has already embarrassed themselves again, losing at home to Evansville 68-53 to drop to 5-9 and 0-3 in the MVC. -

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/boxscore/_/gameId/401722455

Evansville lead virtually the whole game, leading by as much as 21 points in the second half, and they won easily.
Evansville improves to 5-9, and 1-2 in the MVC, leaving SIU alone in last place, for now.
At least there is no report that SIU elbowed any Evansville players to knock them out of the game.

[Da Coach]

UIC beats undefeated Drake in Chicago 74-70 - https://www.espn.com/mens-college-ba...meId/401722454
Drake drops to 12-1, and 2-1 in the MVC. UIC is now 9-4, 2-1.
Drake's Bennett Stirtz had 30 points, 5 rebounds, and 12 assists.
UIC has won 5 straight games - https://www.espn.com/mens-college-ba...hedule/_/id/82

[BengalFan14]

Is Drake vulnerable? Or is UIC pretty decent?

[houstonbrave]

UIC takes down Drake!!!! 74-70

https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/boxscore/_/gameId/401722454

[Nashville Cat]

Is Drake vulnerable? Or is UIC pretty decent?

I think the answer is yes and yes.

[braves16]

SIU loses at home to Evansville 68-53.

[yoda]

Is Drake vulnerable? Or is UIC pretty decent?

UIC guards were way more athletic and mobile and Drake couldn't stop them...UIC won with their guard play...
Mason, Jackson & Freeman combined in 99 minutes to go 15-23, 11-14 on FTs, 7-9 on 3-pointers, 48 points & 9 assists.
Then with the ball in their hands at the end, and Drake forced to foul, they nailed their FTs

[Da Coach]

Valparaiso bounces back from the tough overtime loss to Bradley by beating Missouri State in Springfield, MO, 73-72 - https://www.espn.com/mens-college-ba...meId/401722456

UNI leads Belmont 39-34 at halftime in Cedar Falls - https://www.espn.com/mens-college-ba...meId/401722452

[bigjimmy]

Not too sure I've ever a game where a team shot this bad from the FT line. MSU was 6-15 from the FT line and it cost them the game literally as Zaxton King had a chance to win it at the FT line as he got fouled on a 3 point shot with .9 left. He missed the first, made the 2nd and after a Valpo timeout bricked the 3rd and the game was over. It was Valpo's first win against the Bears in 10 games.

[BUBraves2006]

It feels like Drake's lack of depth is really going to hurt them as the season goes on. You can't play Stirtz 40 min every single game and not have it affect his game eventually.

[Da Coach]

Not too sure I've ever a game where a team shot this bad from the FT line. MSU was 6-15 from the FT line and it cost them the game literally as Zaxton King had a chance to win it at the FT line as he got fouled on a 3 point shot with .9 left. He missed the first, made the 2nd and after a Valpo timeout bricked the 3rd and the game was over. It was Valpo's first win against the Bears in 10 games.

Valpo really lucked out. They lead nearly the entire 2nd half by as much as 10 points, but then went cold for the final 6 minutes of the game. They only scored 2 points over the final 5:14, and were scoreless for the last 3:26 of the game. Missouri State slowly chipped away at the lead but never colsed the gap.
Fouling an opponent on a nearly 30-foot desperation 3-point shot at the buzzer when you are ahead by two is a terrible mistake. But as noted, the Missouri State player missed 2 of 3 free throws to allow Valpo to barely hold on.

[Da Coach]

Northern Iowa never trailed and lead by as much as 15 points. But, Belmont made it close at the end, getting within 3 points before being forced to foul.. UNi held on for the win- Final score- UNI 76 Belmont 70 - https://www.espn.com/mens-college-ba...meId/401722452
UNI improves to 9-5, and they are tied with Bradley at 3-0 in the MVC
Belmont drops to 9-5, and they are 1-2 in the MVC.


MVC scoreboard - https://www.espn.com/mens-college-ba...ype/2/group/18
MVC standings - https://www.espn.com/mens-college-ba...ngs/_/group/18