This week's MVC men's basketball schedule:
Wednesday, Jan. 4
*UNI at Valparaiso ESPN+ 6:00 PM
*Indiana State at Illinois St. ESPN+ 7:00 PM
*Drake at Southern Illinois ESPN+ 7:00 PM
*Belmont at UIC ESPN+ 7:00 PM
*Bradley at Murray State ESPN+ 7:00 PM
*Evansville at Missouri St. ESPN+ 7:00 PM
Saturday, Jan. 7 TV (CT)
*UIC at Indiana State ESPN3 1:00 PM
*Illinois State at Evansville ESPN+ 1:00 PM
*Southern Illinois at UNI ESPN3 1:00 PM
*Valparaiso at Bradley CBSSN 2:00 PM
*Missouri State at Belmont ESPN+ 4:00 PM
*Murray State at Drake ESPNU 5:00 PM
*denotes Conference game
MVC Player of the Week
Lance Jones, Southern Illinois
6-1, 190, Sr., G
Evanston, Ill. | Evanston Township
Jones has been an offensive weapon for the Salukis over the past week, leading the team with 18.5 points and 3.5 assists per game. The Evanston, Ill., product scored 21 to go with four assists and three rebounds in a road win at Murray State – helping the Salukis snap the Racers’ 20-game homecourt streak. Jones went on to score 16 for SIU as the Salukis rallied back from a halftime deficit to defeat Belmont at home. Jones scored 13 of his 16 in the second half to lead the charge to go along with three assists, three steals, and a pair of rebounds. The sharpshooter connected on five 3-pointers in the wins while shooting 14-for-30 from the field.
MVC Newcomer of the Week
Dalen Ridgnal, Missouri State
6-7, 215, Sr., F
Kansas City, Mo. | Lincoln Academy [Georgia]
Ridgnal led the Bears to a 2-0 week, including a victory over the MVC preseason favorite Drake and a rare road win at UNI. He started the week with game-highs and career-highs 24 points and 11 rebounds at UNI to give the Bears just their fifth win ever at McLeod Center. He also secured his first career double-double and just the second by a Bear this season. He finished 5-of-9 from 3-point range (.556) and 8-of-13 overall (.615) with a block, a steal and an assist in 34 minutes in Cedar Falls. He followed that with another solid effort in MSU’s win over Drake, igniting MSU’s early double-figure lead against the Bulldogs with a pair of first-half 3-pointers and a steal/dunk as part of an early 7-0 run. He finished with 8 points, 4 rebounds, a pair of threes, a block and a steal vs. DU. For the week, the Georgia transfer averaged 16.0 points and 7.5 rebounds, both team highs, while squaring up 7-of-14 3-pointers (.500) and 11-of-19 (.579) field goals.
ISU Remains Unbeaten
Indiana State’s 4-0 league start is its best since starting 5-0 in the Missouri Valley Conference in 2014-15.
Close Games in MVC Play
Six of the league’s 24 contests have been decided by three points or less (or in overtime) this year. Four additional games have been decided by six points or less [10 of 24 decided by 6 or fewer].
OT - Murray State 77, at Valparaiso 70 (12-4)
OT - at Murray State 70, Illinois State 67 (12-1)
3 - at Missouri State 52, Drake 49 (1-2)
3 - at Belmont 63, Bradley 60 (12-28)
3 - Indiana State 74, at Southern Illinois 71 (12-7)
2 - at Indiana State 75, Drake 73 (11-30)
Records in "Close" Games: Indiana State (2-0); Murray State (2-0); Belmont (1-0); Missouri State (1-0); Bradley (1-0); Illinois State (0-1); Southern Illinois (0-1); Valparaiso (0-1); Drake (0-2).
Bench Play
Missouri State leads the MVC and ranks 46th nationally with 27.36 points per game coming from its non-starters.
Nothing But Net
Bradley heads a list of five MVC men’s basketball schools that rank in the Top 107 of the NET (Jan. 2). Only eight leagues have 5 or more teams in the Top 107 of the NET (ACC, Big 12, Big East, Big Ten, MVC, Mountain West, Pac-12, SEC, and the WCC.)
Vs. Non-MVC
The league finished the regular season with a 74-55 record vs. non-league teams (.574). That record includes an impressive 46-10 slate in home non-league games. MVC teams were 71-54 (.568) in non-league play in 2021-22.
Against the Top 25
MVC teams were 2-2 vs. Top 25 non-conference teams this season, and the Conference was 3-5 against teams from Power leagues. Drake beat No. 15 Mississippi State on Dec. 20, and Murray State knocked off No. 24 Texas A&M in the opening round of the Myrtle Beach Invitational. In 2021-22, the MVC recorded a 1-6 record against non-conference Top 25 programs. Drake’s win marked the first time it had beaten an SEC team in nearly 50 years (1973 vs. Georgia). The last time Drake beat a ranked non-conference team was in 2008 at Butler.
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)
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 38.1 figure leads the MVC and ranks 20th nationally.
Not Offended
Averaging 14.7 personal fouls per game, the UNI Panthers are the least penalized team in the MVC this season. The Panthers rank 42nd nationally in fewest fouls committed per game.
On the Defensive
Three league teams rank in the Top 31 of the NCAA for scoring defense. Bradley is tops in the MVC and ranks 13th nationally at 58.7 ppg allowed. Southern Illinois ranks 19th (60.5 ppg); while Missouri State is 31st (61.2 ppg). Only 11 teams in the MVC since 1970 have had a scoring defense better than 58.7 ppg.
Charity Tosses
Illinois State ranks ninth nationally in team free throw percentage, connecting on 79.1 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 24th in the NCAA this year (76.3 percent). Roman Penn of Drake leads the MVC and ranks 8th nationally (92.1 percent).
Leading the League
Indiana State leads the MVC and ranks 53rd nationally for team field goal percentage (47.6). 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.
Scoring Offense
Indiana State leads the league and ranks 26th nationally in scoring (81.2 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 74.1 ppg.
Long Range Snipers
Belmont ranks 10th nationally and leads the league by shooting 40.0 percent from beyond the arc.
Making Threes
A pair of MVC teams rank in the Top 20 nationally for 3FG made per game. Belmont leads the league and ranks 13th best in the nation (10.0 per game). Indiana State ranks 18th nationally as it averages 9.8 three-pointers per game. Drew Friberg of Belmont ranks in the Top 10 nationally for 3FG percentage (50.9) and 3FG made per game (3.60). With 54 makes, Friberg is on pace to crack the MVC’s single-season Top 10 for treys made by a first-year MVC player.
BEL .. Winning Ways
Belmont has won 20+ games and earned postseason play 15 of the last 17 years. That includes NCAA Tournament appearances in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2019 & 2020. A pair of MVC teams (Drake and Belmont) have won 60+ games since the beginning of the 2020-21 season.
Winningest NCAA Teams - Past 3 Seasons
74 -- Houston (2021-2023) thru Jan. 1
71 -- Gonzaga (2021-2023)
67 -- Kansas (2021-2023)
65 -- Baylor (2021-2023)
64 -- Arkansas (2021-2023)
63 -- Arizona (2021-2023)
62 -- Drake (2021-2023)
62 -- USC (2021-2023)
62 -- UCLA (2021-2023)
61 -- UAB (2021-2023)
60 -- Belmont (2021-2023)
60 -- Purdue (2021-2023)
BRAD .. Board Certified
Bradley’s Rienk Mast pulled down 17 rebounds in the win against UIC last Saturday. The 17 caroms are the most by a Brave in a single game since 2007. Since returning from injury Mast has scored in double figures for nine straight contests and collected a double-double in 3 of his last 4 games played. DJ Burns of Murray State is the only other league player to reach 15 rebounds in a game this year (vs. Tulsa). A 17-plus rebound game has only occurred 47 times in the NCAA this year (by 37 different student-athletes).
DU .. In Springfield
Drake senior forward Darnell Brodie grabbed a season-high 13 rebounds—his fourth double-figure rebounding game of the season and 13th in his career at Missouri State on Sunday. It marked Brodie’s fourth straight double-figure rebounding game against the Bears in games played in Springfield, Mo. He collected a career-high 15 followed by 14 rebounds in back-to-back games Jan. 26-27, 2021 and grabbed 10 rebounds Jan. 2, 2022.
UIC .. Block Party
Toby Okani of UIC set a new single-game season high for UIC in blocks with seven in the Flames’ first-ever MVC victory over Illinois State on Wednesday, Dec. 28. The seven blocks are a league best this season.
ILS .. Rare Air
Kendall Lewis is one of just 7 players in NCAA Division I this season to have at least 15 assists, 15 blocks, and 20 steals, 100+ rebounds, 175+ points.
UE .. Coming On
In his top two games of the season, UE freshman Gabe Spinelli reset his scoring in both games over the last week. Spinelli started the week with 10 points at Indiana State, connecting on five field goals. Sunday’s game against Murray State saw him better his scoring mark as he totaled 12 points. After scoring a total of seven points in the first six games, he has averaged 6.4 points per contest since that time.
INS .. Double Figures Again
With 13 points at Valpo, Courvoisier McCauley extended his double-digit scoring streak to eight games and made it three straight games with three triples. He has connected for at least one 3-pointer in each game this season and has hit three or more in nine games this season. He is the only Valley player with multiple 30-point outings this season and he is one of eight Valley players with five or more 20-point outings. He paces all Sycamore scorers with 17.1 points per game this season.
SIU .. The Key To Victory
Southern Illinois totaled just four turnovers during a road win at Murray State. It marked the fewest turnovers in a game since the 2017-18 season when Southern turned the ball over four times against Duquesne. SIU snapped Murray State’s 20-game homecourt streak -- the seventh-longest in the nation at the time -- with a 63-57 victory. It tied for the 19th-best (fewest turnovers) in a game this year. Drake (3 in a win vs. Wofford) and Indiana State (3 in a win vs. North Dakota State) are also on the list.
MOST .. Closing Out a Win
Missouri State’s Donovan Clay scored three points in the final 77 seconds and finished with a team-high 15 points on the afternoon to lift Missouri State to a 52-49 home win over visiting Drake on Sunday. The victory marked Missouri State’s third in the last four meetings with Drake.
VALPO .. Defending the Arc
Valpo has held the opposition to 33 percent or lower from 3-point territory in six straight games. Prior to this current stretch, opponents had shot 33 percent or better from 3-point range in seven straight games. Most recently, the Beacons held Indiana State to 28.6 percent from 3 on Sunday after keeping Drake to 21.4 percent on Thursday.
UNI .. Jake Climbing the List
UNI’s Ben Jacobson is tied with Dana Altman for third on the MVC’s all-time wins list. Jacobson has won 327 games in his time at UNI, while Altman totaled 327 wins at Creighton from 1994 to 2010. Jake is third on the coaching wins list for MVC-only games.
Winningest MVC Coaches - All Games
486 -- Henry P. Iba, Oklahoma State (1934-57)
337 -- Eddie Hickey, CU/SLU (1935-43; 1946-58
327 -- Ben Jacobson, UNI (2006-present)
327 -- Dana Altman, Creighton (1994-10)
285 -- Barry Hinson, MoState/SIU (1999-08; 2012-19)
Winningest MVC Coaches - MVC Games Only
187 -- Henry P. Iba, Oklahoma State (1934-57)
182 -- Dana Altman, Creighton (1994-10)
176 -- Ben Jacobson, UNI (2006-present)
DU .. Scrappy Sturtz
Drake 6’3” guard Garrett Sturtz has passed Sam Roark for third all-time in career rebounds in Drake program history. He has 797 career rebounds. Only 54 players in MVC history have reached 800 rebounds for a career. Sturtz is the league’s active leader. He sits second among all NCAA players in total games played over his career (148).
SIU .. Streaking
Southern Illinois has won its last six games. The last time SIU won seven-straight games was during the 2020-21 COVID-shortened season when the Salukis started the season with seven-straight wins. The streak is tied for the longest in the league this year (Drake).
MUR .. Out of the Gates
Murray State’s 15-0 run from the tip off against Evansville marked the Racers’ best start this season when they held UE to 0-of-8 from the field, while MSU hit 7-of-11 field goals to push their lead to 18-1 with 12:40 in the first half. MSU’s 13-0 start marked their best this season in the first five minutes of a game. MSU’s previous best was at the Myrtle Beach Invitational when they led Texas A&M 12-6.
VALPO .. Double Trouble
Valpo’s Kobe King has scored in double figures in all 15 of his team’s games this season, the lone Missouri Valley Conference player to do so. King has scored 10 points or more in 34 of his 38 career games at Valpo and has tallied 15+ points in 11 of his 15 games in 2022-23.
UNI .. Anderson Leads MVC
UNI’s Tytan Anderson leads the MVC and ranks in the top-30 in the nation with 5 double-doubles this season. Anderson also leads the conference in rebounds and defensive rebounds per game, and ranks second in offensive rebounds a game. Bradley’s Rienk Mast, who led the MVC in rebounding last year, is also averaging 9.0 but has not yet played enough games to qualify for the league leaderboard.