(St. Louis, MO) – Scottrade Center will be rocking on Sunday afternoon with two very committed teams that don’t like each other and need a tournament title to be assured of a trip to the NCAA Tournament. No. 21 Wichita State (29-4) and Illinois State (27-5) square off Sunday in downtown St. Louis in the ultimate tie-breaker.
The two power-houses were 17-1 in league play and tied for the regular season title. They split their regular season games with each winning on their home floor. Despite winning the past three conference regular season titles, the Shockers have just one post-season tournament trophy. Illinois State knocked them off in 2015 and Northern Iowa turned the trick last season.
Despite solid RPI numbers, neither team is assured an at-large bid to March Madness, so Sunday’s championship game is doubly important.
Both defeated 17-win teams on Saturday to set up the Sunday showdown.
Illinois State knocked off Southern Illinois (17-16) by a score of 63-50. MVC ‘Player of the Year‘ Paris Lee scored 12 points, and MiKyle McIntosh added 15.
Wichita State’s 78-63 win was its 14th straight. Shaquille Morris scored 21 points, and Conner Frankamp added 18. `Missouri State (17-16) received a 20 point performance from sophomore Jarred Dixon.
The Redbirds are one of the top five teams nationally in defensive field goal percentage, but head coach Dan Muller says defensive commitment was lacking early in the season and had to be learned. His team had to learn to ‘keep chopping wood’.
Morris’ scoring performance was his third career game of 20 points or more and head coach Gregg Marshall says he and his burly center have had a ‘developing’ relationship, and that he’s looking forward to Sunday’s championship game.
Both teams play dynamic defense, can score in bunches and are physical. We are set for a magical Sunday in St. Louis.
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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
