Drake & Missouri State Prevail
(St. Louis, MO) – Missouri Valley Conference teams enjoyed Sunday MTE success. Missouri State and Drake each won their third straight game. The Bears survived a slug fest with Kent State and Drake prevailed over Oakland.
Missouri State’s semi-final win over the Golden Flashes sends them to the US Virgin Islands MTE final and Drake’s victory at the Cayman Islands classic gives them a second round date with Stephen F. Austin (12:30 CST).
Sunday MTE Success
Both Drake and Missouri State showed resilience and depth during their Sunday victories. The Bears battled foul trouble and cold shooting but prevailed 56-52. Dana Ford’s team held Kent State nearly 40 points under their season scoring average and were a dominant rebounding team. Point guard Matthew Lee recorded his first double-double, scoring 13 points and grabbing a team high ten rebounds. While Lee was making clutch free throws during crunch time, Bear defenders grabbed 51 rebounds, including nine from Donovan Clay who led the team with 16 points.
Cesare Edwards scored eleven points and Chance Moore returned to the lineup from his ankle injury to score nine.
Abilene Christian (3-2) awaits in the US Virgin Islands final. The Wildcats scored just 59 points during their semi-final win over Fordham. Game time is 7:00 pm (CST).
Drake star Tucker DeVries went one for ten from the field and the Bulldogs won anyway. Newcomers Kevin Overton and Atin Wright picked up the scoring load with each scoring 22 points. Grad student Darnell Brodie returned to the lineup to add 14.
DeVries contributed in other ways by grabbing eleven rebounds, handing out three assists and coming up with three steals. Drake (3-0) is receiving votes in the latest AP national poll.
What’s On Tap?
Illinois State and Murray State each have 12:30 (CST) start times in Fort Myers, Florida. The Redbirds take on Long Beach State in the Gulf Coast Showcase and simultaneously the Racers face UNC Wilmington in the Fort Myers Tip-Off.
Bradley has a late night date with Tulane (3-0) as the Braves (3-0) continue play at the So Cal Challenge (9:30 pm).
(See our story on all twelve Valley teams’ participation in this week’s MTEs)
If MVC Sunday MTE success is a harbinger of things to come, this MTE season could be a happy Thanksgiving for Valley fans.
Do Good
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As we near the closing of the portal window, we've reached 1900. Some of them never to play college basketball again, earn a college degree and some to play at a much lower level than they did last season.
I guess we'll be seeing this in a @RacersHoops uniform this year. Glad AJ is staying in the @ValleyHoops.
