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Sunday, December 22, 2024
Seventh-seeded Missouri State had No. 2 seed Evansville right where it wanted in the teams’ Missouri Valley Conference Tournament quarterfinal Thursday night-tie game, 15 minutes to play, pressure squarely on the higher seed. Then, with quiet efficiency on its next three possessions against the Bears’ matchup zone defense, the Purple Aces scored six straight points-layup, layup, two free throws. Evansville would not trail again.
On a day where few underdogs won, as opposed to the day before, the heroes were fitting named Valentine and Balentine. Plus a missed opportunity in Florida, a tie emerges out west, and a couple of wild games in the east.
An entertaining game is unfortunately followed by a very less-than-entertaining melee. Plus a home team takes over late in the Atlantic 10, cancer hits the basketball world again, and a Tiger’s career may be in jeopardy.
Underdogs regularly causing problems for favorites is that true throw-out-the-record-book quality that takes a series to the next level. The yearly between West Virginia and Marshall in the past has often fallen into that category-the Mountaineers traditionally have had the better program, yet the Thundering Herd frequently have been nipping at their heels, giving the state school a tough time.
