ESPN has selected the Southern Illinois at Loyola men's basketball game for distribution on ESPNU on Sunday, Jan. 27. The game will tip at 3 p.m. CT. Also, CBS Sports has selected the Indiana State at Illinois State game for distribution on CBS Sports Network on that day with a 1 p.m. CT tip. The network designations were previously listed as TBD on the MVC schedule.
With wins over Indiana State and Drake last week to open conference play, the Ramblers got off to a 2-0 start for the first time since joining the Missouri Valley Conference. In fact, this marks the first time since 2003-04, when it was a member of the Horizon League, that Loyola has opened league play (regardless of affiliation) with consecutive victories. Pre-season MVC Player of the Year Clayton Custer leads the Ramblers in scoring (14.5 ppg) while Marques Townes (13.9 ppg) and Cameron Krutwig (13.6 ppg and 7.5 rpg) also average more than 10 per game. Southern Illinois is also 2-0 after starting the year with wins against Missouri State and at UNI. The Salukis are one of the MVC's most veteran teams and have five players who average double-digit points per game. Armon Fletcher leads SIU in scoring, although he's missed nine games this season. Four other Salukis (Sean Lloyd, Kavion Pippen, Aaron Cook and Eric McGill) average between 11.3 and 11.9 points per game. Earlier this week, it was announced that the SIU-Loyola game is sold out.
The Sycamores are winning the close ones this year, in fact in games decided by 10 points or less Indiana State is a perfect 7-0 this season, including a mark of 4-0 in games which are decided by five points or less. Indiana State has two guards among the top-scoring players in the league, including Jordan Barnes (18.8 ppg) and Tyreke Key (16.2 ppg). Newcomer Christian Williams adds 10.5 points and 7.0 rebounds per game for ISU. Meanwhile, through two MVC games this season, the Redbirds have given up a combined 104 points (58 at Valparaiso, and 46 against Evansville). That is the second-lowest total by an ISU program through two games in the Redbirds’ 38th season in the conference. The Redbirds are led by four players who average double-digit points per game. Milik Yarbrough tops Illinois State in both scoring (16.3 ppg) and rebounding (8.1 rpg) and he also has a team-best 59 assists.
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.