Sunday Split Finishes MTE Season

UIC Misses Title By One Point

(St. Louis, MO) – Belmont won and Illinois Chicago drop a one-pointer and a Sunday split finishes MTE season for Missouri Valley Conference teams. Valley teams finish the MTE season with an outstanding 23-11 MTE record and four event titles.

Last season MVC squads went 17-17.

Sunday Split

Belmont won its second straight Cathedral of College Basketball Classic game with a ten-point victory over 79-69. Cade Tyson (19 points) and Malik Dia (18) sparked the Bruin victory over Lafayette as Belmont won two of three games in Pennsylvania. Belmont (4-3) made .409 from deep and handed out fifteen assists.

Jace Willingham recorded his first double-double (ten points and ten rebounds).

Illinois Chicago came within one point of becoming the Valley’s fifth MTE champion. The Flames lost a battle of one-loss teams 58-57 to UNC Greensboro. After Jaden Borownell’s jumper with ten seconds remaining, two free throws with three seconds left were the difference.

Isaiah Rivera led the Flames (5-2) with 14 points. UIC took two of three games at the Baha Mar Hoops Nassau Championships. Rivera was named to the ‘All-Tournament Team’.

Sunday Split Leads to League Play

After the Valley’s outstanding MTE season, all twelve teams open conference play. Tuesday Southern Illinois launches the Valley season with a game at Indiana State. Five conference games tip on Wednesday.

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