This week's Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball honors go to Isiaih Mosley of Missouri State and Ryan Schwieger of Loyola.
MVC MBB Notebook (PDF)
MVC Player of the Week
Isiaih Mosley, Missouri State
6-5, 194, Jr., G
Columbia (Mo.) Rock Bridge High
Bears standout Isiaih Mosley had two unforgettable games the week of Jan. 2, averaging 27.0 points, 7.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game, while firing at an incredible .583 clip from the field (21-of-36) and 43-percent effort from distance (6-of-14). He started the week with a buzzer-beating 3-pointer at Bradley (Jan. 5) to lift the Bears to a 61-59 win at Carver Arena. Mosley’s 11-point outing helped MSU to its first Valley road win of the year. He then topped that performance with a remarkable 43-point outburst against Northern Iowa three days later (Jan. 8), going 16-for-24 from the field with 5 three-pointers and team-highs 9 rebounds and 4 assists. His point total vs. UNI marked the third-highest scoring game in program history (tops in the Division I era), matched the highest single-game scoring effort in the nation this season and was a JQH Arena record. His 27 points in the second half vs. UNI also tied a school record.
MVC Newcomer of the Week
Ryan Schwieger,Loyola
6-7, 205, Sr., F
Matthews (N.C.) Weddington High [Princeton]
Schwieger had a big week in Loyola’s return to the hardwood for the first time since Dec. 10, averaging 18.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.0 steals, while shooting 56.5 percent (13-for-23) from the field and 40 percent (4-for-10) from three-point territory in wins over San Francisco (79-74) and Bradley (78-71 OT). The transfer from Princeton pumped in a season-high 24 points, hitting 9 of 10 shots from the field, including 3 of 4 from long range, and grabbed three rebounds, to spark the Ramblers to a 79-74 victory over San Francisco, which entered the game with a NET ranking of 32, in a hastily scheduled contest in Salt Lake City on Jan. 6. Schwieger, who leads the team in scoring this season (12.5 ppg), then produced 13 points and four boards off the bench as Loyola erased a 16-point, second-half deficit to stun Bradley, 78-71, on January 8 to run the Ramblers’ home-court win streak to 29 games.
MVC in the Metrics
The Missouri Valley Conference is No. 11 in both the KenPom metrics and in the NET (through games of Jan. 9). Three MVC teams are in the Top 100 in both metrics (Loyola, Missouri State, and Drake).
NET Rankings Leaders
Loyola leads the league in the latest installment of the NET ratings, at No. 19. Last year, three league schools ranked in the Top 100 of the NET and the MVC had four teams in the Top 150. This year, the league currently has six teams rated 150 or better.
Close Calls
Through Jan. 9, the MVC has played 15 Conference games, most of which have been close. According to KenPom, the league’s nine one-score (three points or less or overtime game) contests in 15 total league games is the most in the nation. Only three of the league's 15 games so far have been decided by more than 10 points.
MVC Expands to 11 Members
Murray State has accepted an invitation from the Missouri Valley Conference. The Racers become the 11th member of the MVC beginning July 1, 2022. Murray State is the second MVC school from the state of Kentucky (Louisville was a league member from 1964-1975). With Belmont previously admitted in September, this marks the first time since 1976-77 that the MVC had added two schools in the same season (Creighton, Indiana State). The MVC has never expanded by three schools in the same season.
Paused
As of Jan. 10, a total of 27 Missouri Valley Conference men’s basketball games have been adjusted or canceled.
- MVC Games Postponed/Rescheduled: 6/6
- Total MVC Games Moved: 7
- Regular-Season MVC Games Canceled: 0
- Non-Conference Games Canceled/Postponed: 14
- Games Not Made Up: 8
- Games Added (new opponents): 5
- Rescheduled (same opponent/diff. date): 1
Recapping Last Season
The MVC played a full 90-game conference schedule (and was the only Division I league to do so). The MVC had 32 game-date shifts in league play since Christmas and rescheduled 17 games during the process.
- Non-Conference Games Permitted: 90
- Non-Conference Games Scheduled: 68
- Games Cancelled/Added: 25/24
- Conference Games Scheduled/Played: 90/90
- MVC Games Postponed/Rescheduled: 17/17
- Total MVC Games Moved: 32
- Regular-Season MVC Games Canceled: 0
Home Cooking
Through games of Dec. 5, MVC men’s basketball teams had a 25-11 home record in non-conference play. Since then, MVC teams are 23-1 at home to lift the full-season non-conference home record to 48-12. Last season, Valley schools posted a 34-2 home record in non-league games, and the MVC was 55-6 at home the year prior.
Jake Moves Into Third
UNI’s Ben Jacobson is tied with former Creighton/Saint Louis coach Eddie Hickey as the third winningest MVC coach in conference only games in league history. Henry Iba (Oklahoma State) leads the MVC with 187 conference wins, while former Creighton coach Dana Altman is second with 182. With 163 league victories, Jacobson leads all active MVC coaches in conference wins.
187 -- Henry P. Iba, Oklahoma State (1934-57)
182 -- Dana Altman, Creighton (1994-10)
163 -- Ben Jacobson, UNI (2006-present)
163 -- Eddie Hickey, Creighton/SLU (1935-43; 1946-58)
155 -- Barry Hinson, MSU/SIU (1999-08; 2012-19)
Loyola’s Home Streak
Loyola enters this week with a 29-game win streak at Gentile Arena, the fourth-longest, active streak in the country (through games of Jan. 9).
60 -- Gonzaga
42 -- Liberty
34 -- Houston
29 -- Loyola
22 -- Baylor
BU .. Close Games
Bradley’s four Valley games this season have been decided by a combined 16 points so far (average of 4.0 per game) with none featuring more than a seven-point margin of victory (none decided by more than five in regulation). In its 70th year of competing in the Missouri Valley Conference, it marks just the fifth time that BU’s first four conference games were decided by single digits, while the 16 total points is the fewest in school history through four contests (previous low was 18 in 1979-80 and 1981-82). Overall, 10 of BU’s 16 contests this season have been decided by single digits.
DU .. DeVries for Three
Tucker DeVries is quickly climbing the charts for most 3-point baskets made by a Drake men’s basketball freshman. Luke McDonald’s 86 treys in 2000-01 is the MVC record for a freshman.
Single-Season 3-Point Baskets Made (Drake Freshmen)
1. Luke McDonald (2000-01) -- 86
2. Reed Timmer (2014-15) -- 73
3. Josh Young (2006-07) -- 57
4. Klayton Korver (2003-04) -- 39
4. Rayvonte Rice (2010-11) -- 39
6. Tucker DeVries (2021-22) -- 38
7. Ben Simons (2009-10) -- 37
UE .. Clamping Down
Through six homes games, the UE defense has shined, allowing the opposition to score an average of just 56.33 points per game. In eight road/neutral site games, the opposition has averaged 74.25 PPG. Just one opponent has scored over 60 points at the Ford Center this season with UCF finishing with 75 on Nov. 20.
ILS .. National Trends
Illinois State continues to lead the league in blocked shots (6.0 per game), which ranks 10th nationally. Only one MVC men’s basketball team has averaged more than 5.0 blocks per game since the league began tracking the stat in 1987 (5.1, Wichita State, 2014). Notably, Illinois State’s Antonio Reeves leads the league and ranks No. 8 nationally with his 21.1 scoring average. The last Redbird to lead the MVC in scoring was Osiris Eldridge in 2010 (15.5 ppg).
INS .. Climbing the Ladder
Cooper Neese scored a game-high 19 points and hit five 3-pointers last time out. With the shots from deep, Neese moved into a tie with Chad Adkins (1996-99) for eighth all-time in career 3-pointers (149). Teammate Tyreke Key sits in seventh with 153 career threes.
LUC .. Approaching Milestone
Lucas Williamson matched a season high with 20 points in the win versus Bradley and he now has 1,038 points in his career. That total ranks 41st in program history and he also now is 19 rebounds shy of hitting the 500 plateau for his career. Only 22 players in Loyola annals have totaled 1,000 points and 500 rebounds in their career.
MSU .. Sharp Shooters
The Bears enter the week ranked 11th nationally in 3-point percentage (.396), 21st in free throw percentage (.772), 22nd in field goal percentage (.485) and 44th in scoring offense (78.8). KenPom also ranks Missouri State as the 40th most-efficient offense in DI (111.4), ranking 16th in effective FG% (.555).
UNI .. Scoring, Up
The Panthers are averaging 82.3 points per game in league play, 10.7 more points than against non-conference opponents (71.6). UNI has shot 52.9% from the floor in four games against the MVC. The Panthers were only shooting 44.5% in non-conference play.
SIU .. Coupet Leads
In the month of December, G Ben Coupet led SIU in scoring (15.9 ppg) as the Salukis went 5-2 during the month. He scored double figures in all seven games, including a career-high 27 at Tulsa. In six games in November, Coupet averaged 7.5 points.
VALPO .. Balanced Scoring
Valpo has six players averaging in double figures through 16 games – Kobe King, Ben Krikke, Sheldon Edwards, Kevion Taylor, Trevor Anderson and Thomas Kithier. The last time Valpo finished a season with five or more players averaging in double figures was the 2007-2008 campaign – Shawn Huff, Jarryd Loyd, Urule Igbavboa, Brandon McPherson and Samuel Haanpaa. Valpo hasn’t had six players finish a season averaging in double figures since at least 1988-89.
BU .. Key To Success
Ja’Shon Henry is an important piece of the Braves’ success and BU eagerly awaits his return to the lineup. Henry has missed the last five games for Bradley with a head injury suffered on Dec. 18 against Saint Joseph’s. Since first arriving on campus, Bradley is 33-18 against Valley schools when Henry plays but now 0-13 when he has misses the game. Henry ranks second on the team this season with 11.2 points and third with 5.1 rebounds.
DU .. Iron Man
D.J. Wilkins of Drake made his 112th consecutive start in the game against Evansville on Jan. 8.
UE .. Tight Games
Three of Evansville’s last four losses come by a total of five points. On December 1, UE fell in its MVC opener to SIU by a 54-52 final before being edged at SEMO on 12/8 by a final of 75-73. In its last outing, the Aces came within inches of a game-winner before Drake fended off the challenge for a 60-59 win on Saturday. All three of those contests came down to a chance to win in the final possession.
LUC .. Good Knight
Dartmouth transfer Chris Knight picked up his first double-double as a Loyola Rambler when he produced 14 points and 11 rebounds off the bench, providing a huge lift in a 78-71, overtime decision over Bradley on January 8. Knight’s double-double was the 10th of his collegiate career.
Maroon Matchup
Missouri State’s mid-week game against Southern Illinois will be the 92nd meeting between the Valley rivals in a series that dates back to 1957. MSU is 25-15 all-time at home (9-4 at JQH Arena) against the Salukis and has won four of the last five meetings.
SIU .. Defense Leads the Way
The Salukis and Loyola are the only two Valley teams that have not given up 70 points in a road game this season. SIU allows 59.4 points per game, which leads the MVC and ranks 18th nationally. SIU also leads the MVC in 3-point field goal percentage defense (30.2).