Missouri Valley Conference Tournament Semifinals: Matt Shaw tipped in a Jamaal Tatum miss with 3.2 seconds left to lift No. 1 Southern Illinois into the title game with a dramatic 53-51 win over No. 4 Bradley. Tatum, who had a game-high 20 points and made several clutch baskets for the Salukis (27-5), put up a jumper from the right side that missed, and Shaw, who finished with 11 points, got into position to tip home the miss. Bradley (21-12) was led by Jeremy Crouch’s 14 points.
The Salukis will take on No. 2 Creighton, a 75-58 winner over No. 3 Missouri State behind 33 points from senior guard Nate Funk. The Bluejays (21-10) never trailed and were in control of the game throughout the second half. Funk was 10-15 from the field and added eight rebounds, and he had good support from Nick Porter, who had 19 points and 13 rebounds. Creighton held the Bears (22-10) under 22 percent shooting in the second half. Blake Ahearn had 20 points and Deven Mitchell had 19 points and eight rebounds to lead the Bears. [3/03/07]
