Southern Illinois (10-12, 4-7) vs. Drake (8-14, 3-8)
SIU Arena; Carbondale, IL
7:05 PM CST
SIU has lost five of their last six games, for of which have been on the road. Drake is the first of their next two home games (Bradley being the other) in which the Salukis look to get back in the win column and try to avoid seventh place in the Valley and a Thursday night game in St. Louis. They will need a consistent two halves tonight. They had a three point lead at Evansville on Saturday but lost by 17.
Drake is struggling just as much as SIU, if not worse. They come in losing six of their last seven and eight of their last 10. They were able to take care of Drake earlier in the season, 69-55 at the Knapp Center. Playing at SIU Arena is a different story. Ryan Wedel and Rayvonte Rice each scored 16 that game. The Bulldog defense limited the Salukis to just 5-20 from beyond the arc.
Evansville (12-9, 6-5) vs. Missouri St. (17-5, 9-2)
Roberts Stadium; Evansville, IN
7:05 PM CST
The Purple Aces find themselves riding a three game win streak into tonight’s game against the Bears and winners of five of their last six. Has Marty figured out the Valley or are the Purple Aces taking advantage of even competition and finding ways to win (five wins against Drake, Illinois St., Bradley, Indiana St., and SIU). They have gotten in a groove defensively, limiting SIU to just 49 points last time out.
Missouri St. needs a win after losing at home to Northern Iowa and ending a 19-game home winning streak. Unfortunately for the Purple Aces, they are up next on the schedule. Coach Martin will have the team ready to go. Will he have the bench ready to go? Consistently playing 35-40 minutes a game, the starters for the Bears looking they might be facing a midseason lull.
Northern Iowa (17-6, 8-3) vs. Illinois St. (11-11, 3-8)
McLeod Center; Cedar Falls, IA
7:05 PM CST
Is there anything the Panthers can’t do? Their Valley win streak is up to seven and counting. A pair of Johnny Moran free throws in the final seconds of a game at Missouri St. helped that streak continue. From the perimeter, Anthony James and Kwadzo Ahelegbe continue to be consistent players night in and night out for the Ben Jacobson’s Panthers.
Illinois St. finds themselves the winners of three in a row (two in overtime), their first and only three Valley wins, and the second three game win streak of the season dating back to November 26-28. The Redbirds are starting to find themselves offensively. The past two games, they put four players in double figures and made enough stops defensively to come out with wins. They will have their hands full tonight but expect an improved ISU team to put up a fight.