ESPN has selected the Loyola at Valparaiso men's basketball game for distribution on ESPNU on Sunday, Feb. 10.  The game will tip at 3 p.m. CT.   Also, ESPN has selected the Illinois State at Missouri State game for distribution on ESPN3 on that day with a 3:02 p.m. CT tip.  The network designations were previously listed as TBD on the MVC schedule.

Loyola and Valparaiso enter this week tied for first in the MVC standings with identical 5-1 marks.  The Ramblers are one of the nation's top shooting teams and have shot better than 50 percent from the floor in a league-leading 12 games this year.  Loyola has three players averaging more than 13 points per game, including Marques Townes (14.2), Cameron Krutwig (13.4) and Clayton Custer (13.2).  Valparaiso, meanwhile, is looking to become just the fifth team in 112 years to go from last place to first, as the Crusaders finished last a year ago in the league standings (6-12 MVC record).  Valpo has a balanced attack with six players averaging 7.5 points or better.  Newcomer and currently injured (ankle) Ryan Fazekas leads the scoring attack as he is averaging 12.7 points per game.  Freshman Javon Freeman is chipping in 10.5 points per game and ranks second in the league in steals. 

Illinois State currently leads the MVC in fewest points allowed during conference games. The team will look to be the third since 1996-97 (joining the 2001-02 and 2016-17 teams) to accomplish the feat.  ISU is just a game behind the co-leaders in the MVC standings (4-2 league mark).  The Redbirds are led by a trio of players who average in double figures.  Milik Yarbrough tops the team in scoring (17.1 ppg), while Phil Fayne (14.8) and newcomer Zach Copeland (10.6) also eclipse 10 points per game.  Missouri State, meanwhile, has gotten a big boost from an influx of new players.  Tulio Da Silva (South Florida transfer) leads the team in scoring, averaging 15.7 points per game.  Junior college transfer Keandre Cook is averaging 12.9 points per game; and Josh Webster (transfer from Texas Tech) leads the MVC and ranks 8th nationally in assist:turnover ratio.  Returning seniors Jarred Dixon (14.2 ppg) and Ryan Kreklow (8.2 ppg) have help stablize the team in its first year under new coach Dana Ford.

Using the wildcard/netflex model, the Missouri Valley Conference -- in conjunction with its television partners -- reserves clearance windows for select dates throughout the season and waits until three weeks before the contest(s) to determine network clearances.