Another day of the Missouri Valley Conference tournament has passed, and the semifinals are officially set. Here are four takeaways from Friday’s action as Drake, Belmont, Bradley, and Valparaiso advance to the next round of Arch Madness.
Valparaiso survives near collapse in upset over Northern Iowa
For the second game in a row, it was “All Wright” for Valparaiso, as the Beacons edged Northern Iowa 64-63 in the quarterfinals. Freshman of the Year Amari Wright led the way with 29 points, including the go-ahead basket in the closing seconds after Tytan Anderson missed a free throw that would have tied the game.
The journey to victory wasn’t easy. Valparaiso blew a double-digit lead and endured an eight-minute scoring drought before Wright and the Beacons regrouped.
Wright’s standout performance further cements him in the conversation for tournament accolades as Valparaiso nowprepares to take on Bradley for a spot in the championship game.
Of course, the Beacons are no strangers to deep runs in Arch Madness. They reached the title game in 2020 before falling to Bradley. Now, in 2025, they’ll look to extend their Cinderella story for two more wins.
A signature performance by a Drake freshman
Often, when looking at box scores from Drake games, the two leading scorers are Bennett Stirtz and Mitch Mescari. But with the pair combining for just 21 points, freshman Isaia Howard matched that total and led the Bulldogs as they cruised to a 70-53 win over Southern Illinois State.
Now, Drake fans will hope this is the start of a Joseph Yesufu-esque run, as the Bulldogs are just two wins away from an NCAA Tournament berth.
Illinois State’s first-half shooting woes
Hoping to carry momentum from their opening-round win over Missouri State, Illinois State struggled significantly in the first 20 minutes. Unable to get anything going inside or outside, the Redbirds shot just 26.7% from the field and 14.3% from deep, heading into halftime trailing Belmont 41-18.
The team attempted to regroup, outscoring the Bruins 45-35 in the second half. But the first-half deficit proved too steep to overcome, as Illinois State fell to Belmont 76-63.
Bradley grinds out a tough win over Murray State
In the third game of the MVC quarterfinals, Bradley defeated Murray State 70-62. However, the surprise came in how the Braves secured the win.
Throughout the season, Bradley has been known as an offensive juggernaut, leading the nation in 3-point percentage. But Friday, they had to win inside.
Struggling from deep, the Braves dominated in the paint, scoring 36 of their points there. Their ability to win in different ways bodes well, especially with a potential championship matchup against Drake looming. The Bulldogs rank No. 2 in scoring defense, meaning points could come at a premium.
After the game, reports surfaced that Murray State coach Steve Prohm would not return. He was in the midst of his second stint at Murray State, posting a 45-52 record in the last three years.
