Missouri Valley Conference Notebook
by Neal Heston
League race tightens: UNI downs SIU in double overtime
Northern Iowa has racked up some huge victories on its home floor during the last two seasons, but perhaps none were as large as the 71-65 double-overtime victory over Southern Illinois on Monday night. UNI (16-3, 6-2) kept pace with Southern Illinois (13-4, 6-1) in the hunt for the MVC lead, crawling within one-half game of the Salukis.
“This was a very crucial game for us,” UNI senior guard Ben Jacobson said after the contest. “It would have been very tough to catch up (with a loss).”
Nobody can blame either team for lack of effort, as Southern Illinois rallied from an eight-point deficit in the first half and staged a six-point comeback in the final minutes of regulation. UNI returned the favor in overtime.
Trailing 56-51 with less than one minute remaining, Jacobson hit two free throws to cut SIU’s advantage to three. A rare missed free throw by the Salukis’ Tony Young (29-of-33 this season) allowed the Panthers to set up Grant Stout for a deep 3-pointer to send the contest to a second extra period.
“It’s one that he practices,” UNI Head Coach Greg McDermott commented on Stout’s trey. “It’s a tough situation, but you play it to the end.”
The contest’s final lead change was recorded after Jacobson banked in a shot from the top of the backboard for a 65-63 lead with less than one minute left. A turnover by the Salukis forced a fouling situation, where the Panthers sealed the game.
Defense was Monday’s main theme – to no surprise. SIU hadn’t allowed more than 55 points since Nov. 26 (11-1 in that span), and UNI had surrendered 57.4 points per game since its loss at Bradley on Dec. 28. (For the record, the game went into overtime knotted at 48.)
UNI’s Eric Coleman led all scorers with 22 points while also grabbing 15 rebounds. Stout followed with 20 points and 13 boards, and Jacobson sank 14 points. SIU was led by Jamaal Tatum’s 17, 13 apiece from Matt Shaw and Randal Falker and 10 from Bryan Mullins.
Both squads face even tougher roads in the near future. The Salukis will travel to offensive power Missouri State on Thursday, then host Illinois State and Creighton. Northern Iowa will face a hungry Drake Bulldog team on Saturday then hit the road for its next three contests (Evansville, Drake and Creighton).
Getting closer to the Top 25
For all the commotion caused by the Valley so far this season, no team from the league has cracked the ESPN/USA Today or AP top 25 yet. Southern Illinois was the closest in the ESPN/USA Today poll this week at No. 32 with 11 votes. Who else, but UNI, was right behind at No. 33 with 10 votes. Creighton earned three votes. The Salukis sit at No. 28 in the AP, followed by UNI at No. 33.
Tourney Watch
Everyone else has been doing “bracketology” since the season started, so here is my shot at it.
- NCAA Tourney: Southern Illinois, Northern Iowa, Creighton, Wichita State
- NIT Bound: Missouri State, Bradley
Southern Illinois is in as the conference leader; UNI is a lock with wins against Southern Illinois and at Wichita State and Missouri State; Creighton is unbelievably hot, thanks in large part to holding opponents to 56.5 PPG during the last four contests; Wichita State’s only two league losses are to SIU and UNI, and a 24-point win over Missouri State is always impressive.
Games to watch this week
Thursday, Jan. 19: Southern Illinois at Missouri State – MSU is 0-3 against Creighton, Northern Iowa and Wichita State. Now it will have a chance to send Southern Illinois to its second consecutive defeat. A loss here for MSU will make a regular season title a long shot.
Saturday, Jan. 21: Drake at Northern Iowa – Drake made this game interesting in the UNI-Dome last season, losing on a free throw with no time left. And this year should be just as interesting, as the Bulldogs nearly knocked off Southern Illinois last week.
Sunday, Jan. 22: Wichita State at Missouri State – MSU faces another foe from the league’s top division. Don’t expect another blowout, especially with the Bear’s 7-1 mark at home.
