Still Perfect -- There are only 24 NCAA men’s basketball teams that remain unbeaten -- including Bradley and Evansville from the MVC. The MVC joins the Mountain West (Colorado State and Nevada) as the only non Power Conferences with multiple unbeaten teams.
A Perfect Nov. 25 -- League teams combined for a perfect 7-0 non-conference slate on Saturday, Nov. 25. The 7-0 single-day W-L mark is one of the best in league play in the last 20 seasons - with only a 9-0 (12/11/2004) and 8-0 (12/3/2005) topping last Saturday since the 2004-05 campaign.
Another Sweep -- Four MVC teams completed MTE play with perfect records: Bradley, Evansville; Indiana State; Missouri State. Five other MVC teams went 2-1 in their respective MTEs (Belmont, Drake, UIC, Southern Illinois, and Valparaiso).
League Play Starts -- Conference play begins Tuesday (Nov. 28) as Indiana State hosts Southern Illinois in the earliest start to MVC play in league history. Tuesday marks 100 days out before the State Farm MVC Tournament (March 7-10).
Non-Conf Success -- The league’s 51-21 (.708) non-conference success currently ranks as one of the best in the league’s 117-year history. It ranks as the second-best in 61 seasons (dating back to the 1963-64 campaign).
Best Starts in a While -- Bradley is off to its best start at 6-0 for the first time since the 1985-86 season (38 years). Evansville, meanwhile, is 6-0 for the first time since the 1964-65 undefeated national championship team. UE has already eclipsed its win total from the entire 2022-23 campaign. UIC’s 5-1 start (before Sunday’s loss) was its best since the 2012-13 season, when it opened 9-1.
Quite the Comeback -- With 11:40 remaining on Friday at Chattanooga, Evansville faced a 62-42 deficit. In what was the 8th-largest comeback in MVC history, the Aces stormed back to take a 2-point lead in the final minute before clinching an 85-77 victory in overtime.
Home Sweet Home -- The MVC has combined for a 29-2 record at home in non-conference play. Drake (40-straight at home) and Southern Illinois (22 in a row) have the longest active win streaks in the MVC in home non-conference games.
In March 2024, The Valley will conduct its 34th St. Louis-based postseason men’s basketball championship. With 34-straight years at the same neutral site, Arch Madness is the second-longest neutral site tenured collegiate tourney in the nation (following only the Big East in New York City).
Belmont BRUINS
- Behind 19 points from Cade Tyson, Belmont defeated Lafayette, 79-69, Sunday afternoon from The Palestra. Tyson went 7-for-14 from the field and added three assists and three steals as Belmont led from start to finish. He earned all-Tournament Team honors.
- Behind a career-high 27 points from Malik Dia, Belmont defeated Penn, 84-79, in overtime Saturday from The Palestra. Dia went 10-for-15 from the field and added eight rebounds and three steals as the Bruins won on the same historic floor Penn had defeated nationally-ranked Villanova 12 days earlier.
- Jayce Willingham recorded his first double-double at Belmont with 10 points and 10 rebounds vs. Lafayette. He scored his career-high 21 points two days earlier.
- Belmont guard Ja'Kobi Gillespie has recorded at least one steal in 13 consecutive games.
BRADLEY BRAVES
- Malevy Leons averaged 15.6 ppg, 5 rpg, and 2 spg in the Braves three contests this past week against Tulane, UTEP and Vermont. Leons led the way for the Braves in the SoCal Challenge on his way to being named to the all-tourney team and Tourney MVP. Leons joins an exclusive list of Bradley MBB student athletics to be named to three regular season all-tourney teams (Hersey Hawkins, David Thirdill, Voise Winters, and Elijah Childs).
- Bradley is off to its best start at 6-0 for the first time since the 1985-86 season (38 years). Bradley has won its last 16 regular season games dating back to last season.
- This past week Malevy Leons jumped into the top-8 for career blocks at Bradley (90). Leons trails 7th place by two blocks which is held by Ari Boya (2018-2022).
- Almar Atlason after starting the season 2-11 from three-point range caught fire this past week going 5-6 from distance. Atlason's timely threes against Tulane, UTEP, and Vermont helped the Braves reach their first 6-0 start since the 1985-86 season, Atlason also contributed three rebounds, two assists and a solo block over the last three games.
DRAKE BULLDOGS
- Kevin Overton averaged 13.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 1.0 assist over three games last week. Overton was named to the Cayman Islands Classic All-Tournament Team. He led Drake with 19 points (3-6 three-point FG shooting) against SFA on Nov. 20. Overton scored 15 points (5-11 field goal shooting) with four rebounds and a steal in the 79-59 win over Akron on Tuesday, Nov. 21.
- Tucker DeVries averaged 19.7 points, 6.0 rebounds and 2.3 assists over three games last week. DeVries poured in 33 points (second most in his career) on 12-19 field goal shooting and 5-11 shooting from behind the arc in a 79-59 win over Akron for third place at the Cayman Islands Classic. DeVries also hauled in nine rebounds against the Zips. He added 16 points (7-12 FG shooting), seven rebounds and two steals in a 77-71 win over Texas Southern on Saturday.
- Dating back to 2016, Drake has won 40 consecutive non-conference home games.
- Darnell Brodie is coming off a season-high 18 points against Texas Southern last Saturday. Brodie has hauled in at least six rebounds in each of the five games he has played this season.
EVANSVILLE PURPLE ACES
- Looking at the Start – Victories over Chattanooga and Southeast Missouri State saw the Purple Aces improve to 6-0 on the season. It is the first time UE has won its first six games since the 1964-65 undefeated national championship team. Just as impressive – UE has eclipsed its win total from the entire 2022-23 campaign.
- Joshua Hughes played a pivotal role in a pair of victories for the Purple Aces at the Coca-Cola Zero Sugar Classic in Chattanooga. The freshman recorded 14.0 points and 6.5 rebounds while helping UE improve to 6-0 on the season. Hughes opened the week with a solid 7-point, 7-rebound performance in the triumph over the Mocs. He added an assist and block in 28 minutes. Saturday’s win over Southeast Missouri State saw him post the top performance of his freshman campaign. Connecting on 8 of his 12 attempts, he scored 21 points while adding 6 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 blocks while playing 28 minutes once again.
- What a Comeback – With 11:40 remaining in Friday’s game against Chattanooga, the Aces faced a 62-42 deficit. In what was the 8th-largest comeback in MVC history, the Aces stormed back to take a 2-point lead in the final minute before clinching an 85-77 victory in overtime. Chattanooga was shooting 53.3% from the field at the time they assumed the 20-point lead. Over the final 11:40 of regulation and the 5-minute overtime period, the UE defense held the Mocs to a tally of just 16.7%.
UIC FLAMES
- Isaiah Rivera was named to the Baha Mar Hoops Nassau Championship All-Tournament Team after averaging 14.7 points and 3.0 rebounds per game to help UIC reach the title game during the three-game tournament, all while shooting .586 from the field (17-of 29) and .467 from the three-point line (7-of-15). He also helped UIC advance to an MTE championship game for the first time since 2004, with the Flames coming up one point shy in the final against UNCG (ranked No. 7 in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major Top 25 Poll) on two last-second free throws. Rivera scored a game-high 23 points (8-13 FG, career-high tying 4-7 3FG), two off his career best, in UIC’s tournament semifinal win over previously-unbeaten George Washington, then added a team-high 14 points (6-10 FG) in Sunday’s title game vs. UNCG.
- UIC’s 5-1 start (before Sunday’s loss) was its best since the 2012-13 season, when it opened 9-1. The Flames advanced to the championship game of an MTE (multi-team event) for the first time since Nov. 17-20, 2005, when UIC won its first two games at the BP Top of the World Classic in Fairbanks, Alaska, against Montana State (69-64) and San Diego State (66-63) before falling in overtime to Denver, 52-48 in the title contest.
- With Saturday’s semifinal win over George Washington, UIC earned its second win of the season against an Atlantic 10 opponent, having also defeated crosstown rival Loyola, 72-67 on Nov. 14 in Rogers Park. It’s believed to be the first time in program history the Flames have defeated two A-10 opponents in the same season.
- In Friday’s tournament quarterfinal, UIC set the tone for its weekend success with a 70-40 thrashing of Conference USA preseason co-favorite Middle Tennessee (which was receiving 48 votes in the Mid-Major Top 25 poll – tied for 33rd if the poll were extended). It was the fewest points allowed by the Flames to a Division I opponent since Nov. 17, 2012, when they defeated Mercer, 62-36, at the Paradise Jam in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
ILLINOIS STATE REDBIRDS
- Myles Foster scored eight points for the Redbirds, making 2-of-3 shots from the field and 4-of-5 free throws and he tied for the team lead with five rebounds against Wright State in Illinois State's last game out -- the Redbirds took fourth place at the Gulf Coast Showcase.
- Brandon Lieb scored a career-high eight points for the Redbirds, making all eight of his free throw tries. His eight free throw makes more than double his previous career free throw make total (six). His 8-of-8 shooting from the charity stripe is tied for the 24th-best single-game free throw performance by a senior in school history.
INDIANA STATE SYCAMORES
- Indiana State recently swept Rice, Pepperdine, and Toledo in the Ball Dawgs Classic in Las Vegas, Nevada, played at the Dollar Loan Center in Henderson. The sweep moved ISU to 5-1 on the season, earning this record for the second-straight season; the lone-loss on the record came from #24/24 Alabama. In the six games, the Sycamores averaged 89.2 PPG with a scoring margin of 12.0. Isaiah Swope and Robbie Avila are leading the Sycamores’ offensive effort, averaging 18.3 PPG and 18.0 PPG, respectively.
- The Sycamores swept the Ball Dawgs Classic tournament in Las Vegas (3-0) last week, largely due to the play of Robbie Avila, moving Indiana State to 5-1 on the season. Avila averaged 18.7 PPG in the three-game, four-day stretch, shooting 54.5% from the floor including converting on 41.7% from three (18-for 33; 5-for-12). Avila’s presence was felt all over the floor as he amassed averages of 7.6 RPG and 4.67 ASP. In the first game against Rice, Avila recorded a near-triple-double with a line of 27-8-8. The forward followed his career night in game one with an 18-8-3 game two. Being a floor leader for ISU, Avila averaged 34 minutes on the floor in the tournament.
- Isaiah Swope iced the final game of the Ball Dawgs Classic in Las Vegas to clinch the three-game sweep of the tournament for Indiana State, knocking down a three-pointer with 38 seconds remaining in the game. ISU moved to 5-1 on the year with the 3-0 sweep, and Swope has led ISU in scoring in five of six. Last week, Swope averaged 17 PPG and 2.33 steals per game. Swope’s game-clenching triple secured five made threes on the night, marking the fourth time this year he’s made four or more. Swope’s week secured top spots among fellow MVC competition, leading the league in 3-point FG made (22), and steals (16).
MISSOURI STATE BEARS
- MoState is 2-0 at home this season and has reeled off five straight victories overall, including a championship in the US Virgin Islands Paradise Jam, Nov. 17-20.
- The Bears rank 38th nationally in 3-point shooting (.386), which is the 3rd-best percentage in The Valley, behind Indiana State (.414) and Southern Illinois (.395).
- Missouri State's 70.0-percent shooting effort in the second half against South Carolina State on Saturday (14-for-20) was the club's best FG% in a half since a 73.9-percent effort in the first half at Evansville on Feb. 26, 2021.
- MSU point guard Matthew Lee (Sr., San Juan, Puerto Rico) was named MVP of the Paradise Jam in the U.S. Virgin Islands last week and then ended the week with a career-high 28 points in Saturday's win over SCSU. Lee ranks 29th nationally (and tops in the MVC) in assists per game (5.7). He also ranks 44th in the NCAA in free throws made (32).
- N.J. Benson (So., Mt. Vernon, Ill.) ranks 2nd in the MVC with 2.83 offensive rebounds per game. Last week, Benson led all Valley players in rebounds (11.0), blocks (2.5), and FG percentage (.833).
Murray State RACERS
- Last Time Out -- The Murray State Racers dropped a 67-57 decision Wednesday in their final game of the Fort Myers Tipoff at Suncoast Credit Union Arena to the Appalachian State Mountaineers in the first meeting with App State in program history. Brian Moore, Jr. led the Racers with 18 points, while JaCobi Wood scored 11 an Nick Ellington and Rob Perry each scored 10
- The 12-team Missouri Valley Conference gets going for the Racers with a pair of early-season games. On Wednesday (Nov. 29), the Racers host the Bradley Braves at 7 p.m. at the CFSB Center. The game promotion is the Racers Day of Giving and SAAC Food Drive.
- A year ago, the Racers were predicted for an eighth-place finish but did better with a spot in seventh place after an 11-9 league record. This year, the Racers are the No. 7 selection in a vote of the MVC coaches, Sports Communications staff, and media.
UNI PANTHERS
- Nate Heise led UNI with 15.7 points per in the Panthers' three-game outing at the Bad Boy Mowers Battle 4 Atlantis, notching double-digit points in all three games against No. 14 North Carolina, Texas Tech and Stanford. Shooting 51.9% from the floor (14-27) with a team-high six made three-point baskets, Heise pulled down 5.7 rebounds a game during the week, dished out seven assists and recorded all three of UNI's blocks during the tournament. Through six games this season, Heise ranks in the top-five in the MVC in scoring.
- Head coach Ben Jacobson can surpass former Creighton and Saint Louis coach Eddie Hickey for second on the MVC's all-time wins list with his next victory. Jacobson and Hickey are both tied for second with 337 total wins.
- The Panthers look to win their third straight MVC home opener on Wednesday night as they host Belmont in their first of two early league games. UNI has defeated Evansville each of the last two years in its first conference home game of the season, and has split their last eight overall.
- Tytan Anderson has scored at least one point in 38 consecutive games, the longest active streak among current UNI players.
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS SALUKIS
- Graduate guard Xavier Johnson averaged 28 points, 5.5 rebounds, five assists and 1.5 steals per game as the Salukis went 1-1 at the Cancun Challenge. Johnson put together one of the best single-game performances in a Saluki uniform when he scored a career-high 38 points in a six-point loss to No. 22 James Madison in the opener of the Cancun Challenge. Down 16 in the first half, Johnson willed the Salukis back with 22 first-half points and eventually helped SIU to a 5-point lead. His 38 points were the most points by a Saluki player since Carlton Fay's 38 points versus Western Michigan in 2010. Johnson answered the call once again in the final game of the tournament when he scored a team-high 18 points and dished out seven assists as SIU rolled past New Mexico State to claim its fourth win of the season. Over the two games, Johnson shot 21-24 from the charity stripe.
- Sharpshooter Jovan Stulic has made an immediate impact for the Salukis in two games, averaging 11.5 points and 5.5 rebounds. Stulic, a graduate student, scored 10 against No. 22 James Madison in the opener of the Cancun Challenge before dropping in 13 against New Mexico State. The Prigrevica, Serbia connected on a triple in both games and has a three in all but one game this season for SIU.
- Freshman Kennard Davis averaged 7.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and one steal while earning the assignment of guarding the primary ballhandler of each of SIU's opponents at the Cancun Challenge. The Saint Louis native scored a career-high 12 points and grabbed six rebounds as SIU pounced all over New Mexico State in the third-place game of the Cancun Challenge. Davis knocked down four 3-pointers in the game and frustrated Aggie guards throughout the contest. The forward had three points in the opener against No. 22 JMU. Overall, Davis shot 5-10 from deep over the two games.
- Southern Illinois has dished out 81 assists in five games this season with three players recording 10 or more dimes. The 16.2 assists per game ranks 62nd-best nationally while SIU's 1.59 assist-to-turnover ratio is 29th-best nationally. SIU assisted on 22 of its 24 made baskets in a win over New Mexico State. Xavier Johnson leads SIU with 27 assists.
- Defense is what SIU is known for and once again the Salukis have stayed true to it. Southern is holding opponents to 63.2 points per game (44th) while allowing opponents to shoot just 25.3 percent from behind the arc -- good enough for 21st-best nationally.
- The Salukis are averaging 10.2 made 3-pointers per game through five games, which ranks 18th nationally. Graduate Trent Brown accounts for three per game while Xavier Johnson sits at 2.2 made threes per outing. Brown is tied for the nation's lead shooting 60 percent from deep (15-25).
- Southern Illinois extended its program-record nonconference home winning streak to 22 games when the Salukis defeated Chicago State. SIU entered the year (19-straight) tied for the longest nonconference home winning streak which happened under the direction of head coaches Bruce Weber and Matt Painter from 1999-2003.
VALPARAISO BEACONS
- At 4-2, Valpo owns its best record through the first six games of the season since also starting 4-2 in 2019-20, a year where the team went on to play in the MVC title game. With a win on Wednesday over Drake, Valpo would own five victories in the first seven games of the season for the first time since starting 8-0 in 2017-18.With a win on Wednesday, Valpo would own a three-game winning streak, which would tie for the program’s longest since the start of the 2019-20 season.
- Valpo will close out a stretch of three straight home games and six of its first seven at the ARC on Wednesday. After this game, the Beacons will hit the road for three straight. Valpo started the season with three straight home games, the first time it has done so since 2016-17. This marks the most home games (six) that Valpo has had in the first seven games of a season since the 1969-70 season when the Beacons traveled to Air Force and had home games against Saint Procopius, No. 10 Notre Dame, Whittier, Pacific Lutheran, Gustavus Adolphus, and South Alabama over the first seven contests. Valpo has owned a record of .500 or better at home in 31 straight seasons.