Under the Radar Game of the Day: Alabama A&M at Mississippi Valley State

Alabama A&M at Mississippi Valley State, 5:00 PM Eastern, free stream at mvsusports.com

The Under the Radar Game of the Day normally focuses in on battles for conference championships and postseason berths among the Under the Radar conferences.  Not today though.  Today, we turn our attention to the other end of Division I.  The bottom of the standings.  And the battle to see just what team may end up being the HoopsHD Centenary Award winner.  The battle this afternoon is in Itta Bena, Mississippi as the only two remaining D1 teams without a single win on the 2016-17 season faceoff — Alabama A&M and Mississippi Valley State.  However, maybe this game should be played in Santa Barbara, California, where UCSB’s arena is known as the Thunderdome.  Today, two teams will enter and only one team will leave.

Alabama A&M (0-13) had a 2 point home loss last time out against Grambling.  It was only the second time all season they had been within 10 points of their opponent at the conclusion of a game.  Senior Quinterian McConico is the Bulldogs’ most dangerous scorer, as he put up 30 points earlier this season against Georgia State, paired with 10 rebounds for one of three double-doubles he has on the season.  Mississippi Valley State (0-14) has struggled almost just as much, with their only single-digit loss being by five points against UMass-Lowell on a neutral court.  For the Delta Devils, the Lowell game was the only game so far this season that they have not played on a hostile court, as the rest of their schedule has been true road games.  Amazingly enough, today is their home opener.  Rashaan Surles is one player to keep an eye on.  He scored a career-high 26 points against Liberty earlier this season and has hit double digits in 7 of the team’s last 9 games.

One team will leave today’s game with their first win of the season.  The other will leave today’s game as the only team left with a shot at a winless season.  Two winless teams will enter.  Only one will leave.