The league sits at 64-52 vs. non-league teams (.552). That record includes an impressive 38-9 slate in home non-league games. Counting two contests on Monday, Dec. 19, there are 14 games remaining on the league’s non-conference regular-season schedule, and all 14 take place prior to Christmas. Ten of the 14 contests are at home; three are on the road; and Drake plays nationally ranked Mississippi State in Lincoln, Neb., in the Battle in the Vault on Tuesday, Dec. 20.
MVC Men's Basketball Notebook (PDF)
MVC Player of the Week
DJ Burns, Murray State
6-7, 220, Jr., F
New Orleans, La. | Sophie B. Wright High
Burns led the Murray State Racers to a pair of wins last week. In a one-point win against Chicago State, he had 15 points and was extremely efficient from the floor as he made 7-of-10 field goals, grabbed eight rebounds and added a block. The Racers rallied from a 22-point first half deficit. Murray State also defeated Austin Peay. Burns scored 18 points in that win on 6-of-8 shooting, grabbed 14 rebounds and added two blocks. For the week, he averaged 16.5 points, 11.0 rebounds while shooting 72.2 percent from the floor.
MVC Newcomer of the Week
Keishawn Davidson, Belmont
6-2, 175, Sr., G
Murfreesboro, Tenn. | Oakland High [Tennessee Tech]
Davidson scored a season-high 23 points as Belmont defeated reigning Southern Conference champion and Top 100 team Chattanooga on the road on Dec. 18. Davidson scored 18 points after halftime - including 13 of Belmont’s 15 points in overtime. Davidson went 7-for-10 from the field, 3-for-5 from 3-point distance and 6-for-6 from the free throw line. He added four assists and two steals.
Close Games in MVC Play
Of the nine Division I leagues who have played a league game (the MVC has played 12, the Missouri Valley Conference leads the nation in league games decided by four points or less (or in OT). Four of the league’s 12 contests have been “close.” Indiana State and Murray State have both built their 2-0 league starts on two close wins.
OT - Murray State 77, at Valparaiso 70 (12-4)
OT - at Murray State 70, Illinois State 67 (12-1)
3 - Indiana State 74, at Southern Illinois 71 (12-7)
2 - at Indiana State 75, Drake 73 (11-30)
Indiana State (2-0); Murray State (2-0); Drake (0-1); Illinois State (0-1); Southern Illinois (0-1); Valparaiso (0-1)
Three MVC Teams at 2-0
Bradley, Indiana State, and Murray State all started league play with 2-0 marks. Bradley is 2-0 in MVC play for the first time since 2012-13. Murray State is in its first year as a member of the Missouri Valley Conference, while Indiana State’s 2-0 league start is its best since starting 5-0 in the MVC in 2014-15.
Off to a Memorable Start
Murray State became just the sixth first-year MVC member since WWII to win its first two conference games, and the Racers are the first to win both of them in overtime. Best starts by a first-year MVC member (since WWII)
5-0 -- Indiana State (1977-78)
3-0 -- Cincinnati (1957-58)
3-0 -- Southern Illinois (1975-76)
3-0 -- Missouri State (1990-91)
2-0 -- UNI (1991-92)
2-0 -- Murray State (2022-23)
Against the Top 25
Murray State knocked off No. 24 Texas A&M in the opening round of the Myrtle Beach Invitational for the league’s first win against a Top 25 team this year. In 2021-22, the MVC recorded a 1-6 record against non-conference Top 25 programs. MVC teams are 1-2 vs. Top 25 teams this season, and the Conference is 2-4 against teams from Power leagues. On Tuesday, Drake takes on No. 15 Mississippi State (SEC) and UIC is at Northwestern (B1G).
Nothing But Net
At 80, Bradley heads a list of five MVC men’s basketball schools that rank in the Top 150 of the NET (Dec. 19). Following a 4-0 non-league mark on Sunday, Dec. 18, the MVC climbed two spots as a league from 16th to No. 14.
Inside Outside
Valparaiso leads the league and ranks 13th nationally as 60.6 percent of its points this year have come inside the arc. Belmont, conversely, leads the MVC and ranks 8th nationally as 41.0 percent of its offense comes via the 3-point shot.
Pace of Play
Indiana State has the league’s “fastest” offense as the Sycamores rank 11th nationally (KenPom) as it averages 15.2 seconds per offensive possession. Drake is the only other MVC team in the Top 75 as the Bulldogs rank 71st in KenPom’s rankings for tempo.
3 on Watch List
Three MVC players have been named to the 2022-23 Lou Henson Award Watch List. Ben Sheppard (Belmont), Tucker DeVries (Drake) and Courvoisier McCauley (Indiana State) represent the MVC. The award, which is presented annually to the top mid-major player in Division I college basketball.
Leading the League
Indiana State leads the MVC and ranks 42nd nationally for team field goal percentage (48.4). The Sycamores have led the MVC in team field goal percentage just one time in its history -- their 1978-79 MVC championship and Final Four season with Larry Bird.
Defending the Shot
Since 2010, all but three teams that have led the MVC in FG percentage defense have earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament. Bradley’s current 40.0 figure leads the MVC and ranks 61st nationally.
Working Overtime
Belmont has played in two-straight overtime games, losing to MTSU and winning at Chattanooga this week. The only other league teams to play two overtime games this year are Valpo (1-1) and Murray State (2-0). Complete single-game records for Murray State only date back to 1983, but Murray State’s first two league games marks the first instance of one of the Racer teams playing back-to-back overtime games.
Charity Tosses
Illinois State ranks eighth nationally in team free throw percentage, connecting on 79.9 percent of its foul line shots. Missouri State set a league record last year by connecting on 79.7 percent for the season. Drake ranks 19th this year.
On the Defensive
Three league teams rank in the Top 40 of the NCAA for scoring defense. Bradley is tops in the MVC and ranks 25th nationally at 60.7 ppg allowed. Southern Illinois is ranked 2nd in the MVC and 34th nationally (61.5), while Missouri State is right behind, 36th nationally (61.8).
Scoring Offense
Indiana State leads the league and rank 18th nationally in scoring (83.5 ppg). Only one league team has averaged better than 80 points per game since 1994 (Tulsa, 83.4). Wichita State averaged 81.0 points per game in 2017. Belmont is next-best in the MVC this year, as the Bruins average 77.0 ppg.
Long Range Snipers
Belmont ranks 11th nationally and leads the league by shooting 40.8 percent from beyond the arc.
Making Threes
A pair of MVC rank in the Top 20 nationally for 3FG made per game. Belmont leads the league and ranks 10th best in the nation (10.4 per game). Indiana State ranks 18th nationally as it averages 10.0 three-pointers per game.
Individuals Beyond the Arc
Indiana State’s Courvoisier McCauley leads the league and ranks 7th nationally with 104 three-point tries this year. Drew Friberg of Belmont ranks 8th best in the nation as he has made 50.6 percent of his three-point attempts. His 3.67 per game average (makes per game) ranks 7th best nationally as well.
BEL .. Road Warriors
Belmont has defeated Atlantic 10 contender George Mason and reigning conference champions Georgia State and Chattanooga all away from home. Belmont gathered 14 steals at Chattanooga Dec. 18 to lift the Bruins to victory. Belmont’s four wins away from home (2 away, 2 neutral) are tied with UIC (2 away/2 neutral) and Indiana State (2 away/2 neutral) for the league lead.
BRAD .. Looking to Extend Streak
Bradley looks to extend its 12-game home win streak today vs Stonehill, which dates back to Jan. 12, 2022. The Braves (5-0) join Drake (5-0), Indiana State (5-0), and Murray State (4-0) as MVC teams that have not lost a game at home this season.
DU .. 3J
Guard D.J. Wilkins tied Josh Young’s program career 3-pointers record of 255 after draining three from deep at Saint Louis on Saturday. His 255 treys are tied for 15th best all-time in MVC history.
UIC .. Red Hot Flames
UIC enters Tuesday night's contest riding a three-game winning streak, dating back to a 62-56 victory over Western Michigan on Dec. 10. The road has been kind to the Flames as of late, as UIC has won four of it's last five road contests.
INS .. Cooper Returns
Cooper Neese made his return Saturday at Duquesne with his first start and first appearance for the Sycamores since Nov. 30 when he went down with an injury in the first half against Drake. He played over 30 minutes and led ISU with a season-high 19 points on 6-of-9 shooting and shot a perfect 6-of-6 from the free throw line. He also had five rebounds and three assists in the game.
UE .. Back in Action
With final exams set for last week, the Aces had time off the court before returning to the floor on Dec. 21 with a home game against Bellarmine.
ILS .. In Rare Company
Kendall Lewis is one of just eight players in NCAA Division I this season to have at least 14 assists, blocks, and steals, while scoring 150+ points. Malachi Poindexter is one of six student-athletes in the country to be perfect on his free throw tries this season with at least 14 makes and attempts.
MOST .. Houston Solution
The Missouri State Bears wrap up their non-conference slate Thursday against visiting Sam Houston before opening Valley play on Dec. 28. Missouri State is one win away from 750 at the Division I level. The Bears are 749-518 in their 41st season as an NCAA Division I program (since the 1982-83 season).
VALPO .. Arc at the ARC
The 3-point arc was kind to Valpo in Sunday’s 71-66 victory over Elon. Valpo converted a season-high 10 made 3s on the offensive end while turning in a season-best in terms of 3-point defense by holding Elon to 3-of-27 (11.1 percent).
MUR .. Quite the Comeback
Murray State rallied from a 22-point first-half deficit to defeat Chicago State on Tuesday. It’s tied for the fourth biggest comeback in league history -- and the biggest rally by a league member since November 2007. The win for the Racers set the 25-year arena record of the largest halftime deficit overcome to win (Murray State was down 15 at the half.)
UNI .. 700-Point Club
Bowen Born became the 84th member of UNI’s 700 career point club after his 27-point effort against Towson. The sophomore guard ranks 81st on the program’s all-time scoring list
SIU .. Three-Point D
The Salukis are holding opponents to just 28.8 percent from behind the arc – ranking second in the MVC and 41st nationally. Only six teams have shot over 30 percent from distance against the Salukis this season.
DU .. You are Still Here?!
Garrett Sturtz is Drake’s all-time leader in games played and D.J. Wilkins is Drake’s all-time leader in starts. Sturtz is tied for fourth among active NCAA Division I players in games played (144) and Wilkins is 15th on that same list (138).
Foul Play
The Sycamores are averaging just 17.9 fouls per game this season but have received nine technical fouls after receiving three this past Saturday at Duquesne, including an administrative tech for not submitting the starting lineup on time. Courvoisier McCauley has three techs while Cameron Henry has two, and three other Sycamores have one. Averaging 14.8 personal fouls per game, the Panthers are the least penalized team in the MVC this season.
SIU .. Converting Field Goals
Clarence Rupert continues to finish at a high level for the Salukis, shooting 71.7 percent (38-53) from the field to lead Southern. The forward has shot over 75 percent in six games this season, including a pair of 6-for-6 performances against Evansville and Lincoln (Mo.).
UNI .. Double Trouble
Forward Tytan Anderson leads the MVC in double-doubles (4) and total rebounds per game (9.2).
VALPO .. Krikke Cracks Top 20
Valpo’s Ben Krikke has moved into the top 20 in program history in career scoring after his seven points in Sunday’s victory over Elon. He now has 1,202 career points after entering the day a single point shy of Lance Barker (1991-1995; 1,196) on Valpo’s all-time scoring list.