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Missouri Valley Basketball Monday: Murray State in, Northern Iowa excels

By Harry Schroeder

Isiaih Mosley, of Missouri State, goes up for the shot during the Bears 78-73 loss to Drake at JQH Arena on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021.Bearsdrake23
Isiaih Mosley, of Missouri State, goes up for the shot during the Bears 78-73 loss to Drake at JQH Arena on Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021.Bearsdrake23 /
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Missouri Valley Basketball Loyola-Chicago Ramblers (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
Missouri Valley Basketball Loyola-Chicago Ramblers (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images) /

Murray State Is Officially In and Loyola is Riding High

Murray State is joining the Missouri Valley Conference, Northern Iowa is making an early-season statement and Loyola continues to be the Missouri Valley basketball team everyone is talking about, and the Valley is as competitive as ever.

After a whirlwind romance, the Valley and Murray State finally got engaged last week and the wedding takes place at a Monday celebration. The 115-year-old league will have at least eleven members next season. One more team could be on the way.

Northern Iowa is starting to play like the perennial contender they have been the entire time Ben Jacobson has been at the helm. UNI (7-7, 3-1) seems to have put some health concerns in the rear-view mirror and their high-powered offense is truly clicking.

Loyola Chicago (11-2, 2-0) has that championship look and seems unstoppable. Drew Valentine’s team has a winning pedigree and more weapons than any other Valley squad. LUC is determined to make its last Valley season another memorable one.

On the court, there is nothing but tight games and exciting conclusions. There were some historic individual displays that lead us to believe this will be one of the most competitive seasons in recent MVC history.

League members are hopeful that covid recoveries will allow the conference to play its first uninterrupted week of the Valley season.