Busting Brackets
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Missouri Valley Basketball Monday: Loyola stumbles opens up league race

By Harry Schroeder

Drake senior forward ShanQuan Hemphill dunks the ball in the second half against Northern Iowa on Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021, at the Knapp Center in Des Moines20210210 Drakeuni
Drake senior forward ShanQuan Hemphill dunks the ball in the second half against Northern Iowa on Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2021, at the Knapp Center in Des Moines20210210 Drakeuni /
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Drake junior guard Roman Penn 20210213 Drakevsloyola /

Loyola not clear favorite anymore

When Drake (16-6, 7-2) defeated Loyola Sunday, they created a tie with the Ramblers for the Valley’s top spot and helped Missouri State (16-7, 7-3) and Northern Iowa (11-9, 7-3) pull within one-half game of the first place. Red hot Bradley (12-10, 6-4) is just behind.

Drake has played short-handed most of the season, but ShanQuan Hemphill returned to lineup this week and the Bulldogs are as healthy as they have been this season. All-Valley guard Roman Penn has missed time with a foot injury, but is playing well despite significant pain in his surgically repaired foot.

Sunday they stunned LUC with a 45-point second half and defeated the defending champions 77-68. The Ramblers are 0-2 against the other teams of the Valley’s Big Four. Drake’s veteran squad received double-digit scoring from four players, including Senior D.J. Wilkins’ 20-point performance. Bulldog defenders forced 16 LUC turnovers.

Coupled with UNI and Missouri State victories there is no breathing room among the top four teams. They play one another next weekend. While LUC has dropped two of its last four games, Drake has won three straight and six of its last seven games. Both of these teams have lost to Missouri State.

The drama of the final eight or nine games and the tie-breaking formulas in place at Valley headquarters in St. Louis will be put to the test. One hot stretch or two, could turn this MVC season on its ear.