Missouri Valley Basketball had wildest of opening nights to start league play

No one could have predicted how crazy the opening night of conference play would be for Missouri Valley Basketball. Eight MVC teams tipped off league pay Wednesday and it was the wildest of opening nights.

Two of the four games were decided in the final four seconds of regulation and one went into overtime. Every underdog covered the spread or won outright and bedlam has already hit the Valley.

Only Loyola Chicago’s twelve-point victory over Indiana State was without last-second heroics and even that contest was a three-point game with 5:46 to go. Ultimately the Ramblers pulled away in front of their home, Gentile Arena crowd. 88-76 was the final.

Four Ramblers reached double figures in the scoring column led by Lucas Williamson’s 20-point performance. Xavier Bledson (16 points) led five Sycamores with ten or more points. The home win was LUC’s 27th straight home victory and their 21st consecutive home win in Valley play.

Loyola’s victory also broke a tie in the series between the two teams. The Ramblers now hold an 18-17 edge over the Sycamores. Wednesday’s game was the first meeting of the two first-year coaches. Loyola’s Drew Valentine and Indiana State’s Josh Schertz were coaching in their first-ever Missouri Valley Conference contests.

Wednesday’s other three games all went down to the wire and one went beyond regulation time to be settled.