For Jon Teitel’s latest Bracketology where he attempts to forecast the Selection Committee – CLICK HERE
For today’s News, Notes and Highlighted Games – CLICK HERE
Missouri State (14-12, 8-5 MVC) at Loyola-Chicago (16-10, 9-4 MVC) – 4:00 PM EST (ESPNU)
Today’s UTR Game of the Day takes us to Chicago where the Ramblers of Loyola will play host to the Missouri State Bears in a matchup of Top 3 teams in the Valley. Missouri State won the first matchup between both teams quite handily and held Loyola to a season-low 35 points in the process of that game. The Bears started the year 2-4 in the Valley, but they now have won six out of their last seven games to get back into contention for the regular season crown. One of those games was a dramatic win at the buzzer against Illinois State where Jarrod Dixon picked up a loose ball near mid-court and hit a half-court shot at the buzzer to give the Bears a 66-65 win last Sunday.
Loyola continues to lead the Missouri Valley Conference, but they have been more of a homecourt hero in the process. All four losses in conference play were on the road (even last-place Evansville beat the Ramblers), but Loyola is a perfect 6-0 at home in conference play and will play three of their final five games at home in Gentile Arena. Nonetheless, Loyola still had a big win at Drake that is ultimately responsible for them being in first place, and they do have a season sweep of the Bulldogs in the event a tiebreaker is needed. Marques Townes leads Loyola with 15.3 points per game; Cameron Krutwig also averages 14.3 points a game and 7.6 rebounds as well.