(Evansville, IN) – There are 14 teams still playing postseason basketball and three of them are from our Valley Conferences.
Here in Evansville, the Purple Aces of the Missouri Valley Conference host UT-Martin of the Ohio Valley in the College Insider.com Tournament (CIT) semifinals. The other semi is at Northern Arizona, where the Lumberjacks host N.J.I.T.
Last night, Loyola defeated Louisiana-Monroe (65-58) in the first game of the best of three championship of the College Basketball Invitational (CBI). The second and third (if necessary) games will be played in Louisiana.
Those 14 teams represent 10 conferences (there is one independent) and only the MVC, Atlantic Coast Conference and Big Ten have multiple teams in this elite group of still standing teams.
Tonight’s game at the Ford Center here in Evansville should be entertaining. Both UT-Martin and Evansville score in bunches and have explosive offensive players. MVC fans know all about D. J. Balentine’s ablity to take over a game. He’s averaging over 30 points per game in the CIT.
Evansville’s other standout is center Egidijus Mockevicius, who is averaging over 12 points and 10 rebounds per game. He is becoming a double-double machine with 19 of those this season. The Aces are competing in postseason play for the fifth time in the past seven seasons.
Marshun Newell – utmsports.com
Martin is participating in their first-ever Division 1 postseason and they counter with four players averaging double figures in scoring. Deville Smith, Tymond Howard, Marshun Newell and Alex Anderson all average more that 12.4 points per game. The Skyhawks have had an amazing turnaround under first year coach Heath Schroyer.
UTM won eight games last year and their 21 wins this season are one victory away from tieing the program’s single season win record. They have 12 road victories this campaign.
Evansville is 12-5 at home, and if they defeat the Skyhawks, they will host the CIT championship game.
Tip time is 6:00 p.m. (CT), but join us for the next addition of ‘Voices of the Valley’ at 4:30 p.m. We’ll be speaking with Evansville and UT-Martin media members from the Ford Center.
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ICYMI: Semifinal # 2 today at #ArchMadness will feature a contrast of styles as # 5 @UIC_MBB faces # 4 @RacersHoops in the 2:30 game.
It's final: @UNImbb 68 @UEAthletics_MBB 59. The Panthers get @Redbird_MBB on Friday night. Campbell finishes with 23 points. Smith with a double-double. AJ Casey was great with 23 & 10. Panthers with 16 assists.
4:05 left: @UNImbb 57 @UEAthletics_MBB 54. Aces' ball. UNI upside? Campbell with 21 points. Down side - Bond 0/6 from deep. UE upside? Casey with 20 & 9. Down Side? 2/11 from deep in the second half. Anybody's game at #ArchMadness
7:25 left: @UNImbb 55 @UEAthletics_MBB 52. Trey Campbell with 21 points for the Panthers and AJ Casey with 18 for the Aces. Tristan Smith is such a game changer. He has 8 pts & 9 rebounds, but that doesn't tell the story. #ArchMadness
