2025 Arch Madness

[OhRotanes]

VALPO HOLDS ON

[Da Coach]

Valparaiso retook the lead after giving up 20 straight points, and held on for the 64-63 win. - https://stats.statbroadcast.com/broadcast/?id=583910

So Bradley will play Valparaiso Saturday at 5:00 pm. Go Braves!

[bigjimmy]

Saturday semifinal day at Arch Madness! 1st game is Belmont vs Drake. Drake won 65-46 in their only meeting as the Bulldogs held Belmont to their lowest point total by 24. Belmont is playing a lot better since that December game but they will still need to match Drake’s physicality to have a chance.

[bigjimmy]

Belmont hitting their shots and Drake isn’t. Belmont is 8-15 overall, 4-9 from 3 and Drake is just 5-15 overall, 1-7 from 3. Belmont leads 21-12 with 7:35 left

[OhRotanes]

Belmont up 30-21 at halftime

[bigjimmy]

Belmont winning a grind it out game against Drake as they lead 30-21 at the half. Belmont was 12-23 overall, 5-14 from 3 while Drake was 9-26 overall, and just 2-13 from 3. Belmont outrebounded Drake 19-10 and had 4 offensive rebounds they converted into putbacks. If Belmont can hold up against Drake’s physical nature on both ends I think the Bruins will be in the finals.

[bigjimmy]

Drake already with more points in 12:00 then in the first half as they lead Belmont 44-39. Belmont having a really tough time getting any shots off as Drake’s physical defense has taken over. Bennett Stirtz scored Drake’s first 9 points of the half

[bigjimmy]

Belmont only 4-15 this half while Drake is 7-13. They are also 7-7 from the FT line while Belmont is 0-2

[Da Coach]

Drake beats Belmont 57-50 - https://stats.statbroadcast.com/mobile/?id=583911

[bigjimmy]

It’ll be the Drake Bulldogs in the finals as they overcame a double digit first half deficit to beat Belmont 57-50. Stirtz was pretty dominate in the second half as he had 16 of his game high 24 points. Belmont was held to just 8-27 overall, 2-12 from 3 after shooting over 50% in the first half. Drake shot many more FT’s, 19-25, then Belmont, 3-6.

[bigjimmy]

Championship Sunday! Bradley vs Drake for the Mo Valley Arch Madness Championship and the automatic bid to the Big Dance! Drake won by 7 in Peoria in January and we won in Des Moines by 2 on a last second dunk by Darius. In the 2 games Duke scored 3 and 12 points while we’ve held Bennett Stirtz to 4 and 8 points. It’s been guys off the bench like Tavion Banks and Karl Combs who have hurt us. We need to be laser focused in defense and respond positively to their aggressive defense. Time for talk is about over. Time to go get yourself a championship boys!