No. 7-seed Valparaiso erased an 18-point deficit and knocked off No. 2-seed Loyola-Chicago 74-73 in overtime Friday in the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament.
Valpo trailed 73-72 when Eron Gordon made what would serve as the game-winning layup — off a great pass from John Kiser — with 3.2 seconds remaining.
.@VALPOBASKETBALL COMPLETES THE MASSIVE COMEBACK IN OVERTIME TO MOVE ON TO THE SEMIFINALS FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER!
THIS IS #ARCHMADNESS30 pic.twitter.com/cHEBZnSfVf
— MVC Basketball (@ValleyHoops) March 7, 2020
Earlier on Friday, No. 8-seed Drake pulled off an even bigger upset against No. 1 seed Northern Iowa, and did so in shocking blowout fashion by the score of 77-56 (Northern Iowa was a 9.5-point favorite).
.@DrakeBulldogsMB makes MVC history! The first-ever upset of a No. 1 seed by an 8/9.@ValleyHoops | #MarchMadness30 pic.twitter.com/V5OBKka1e9
— Bally Sports Midwest (@BallySportsMW) March 6, 2020
The loss is devastating for Northern Iowa’s at-large chances for the NCAA Tournament (the Panthers are 25-6, witha KenPom ranking of 49th).
Drake will take on No. 4-seed Bradley in the semifinals, while Valpo will take on the winner of Friday night’s Indiana State (3)-Missouri State (6) game.
March Madness is in full swing in the Valley.
Update: The No. 3-seed is also out before the semifinals. No. 6 Missouri State (16-16, 9-9) shellacked No. 3 Indiana State (18-12, 11-7) 78-51 on Friday night.
Lamont West dunks with authority. 😤
TV: FSMW/FSKC/FSI Plus | Stream: FSGO | #ArchMadness30 | @ValleyHoops pic.twitter.com/jktYV9SoFR
— Bally Sports Midwest (@BallySportsMW) March 7, 2020
So, the MVC semifinals are officially Drake (8) vs Bradley (4) and Valparaiso (7) vs Missouri State (6).
About Matt Clapp
Matt is an editor/writer at The Comeback and Awful Announcing.
He can be reached by email at mclapp@thecomeback.com.