Missouri State got 22 points from Alize Johnson and 20 from Jarrid Rhodes to turn back Valparaiso, 83-79, here Thursday in the opening round of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament.
Johnson also snagged 19 rebounds in the win to break his own MSU Arch Madness record and help Missouri State (18-14) to a 45-29 advantage on the glass.
League newcomer Valparaiso (15-17) got a game-high 25 points from Tevonn Walker to lead three Crusaders in double figures.
Missouri State, which never trailed, held off a late rally by Valpo to advance to the Friday’s quarterfinal against No. 2 seed Southern Illinois.
The Bears used a 6-0 run over a key stretch midway through the second half to extend a seven-point lead into a 66-53 advantage with 7:49 to play. A pair of baskets by Johnson and a jumper by Jarred Dixon were pivotal on the six-point swing.
But Valparaiso knocked down three 3-pointers in the last five minutes of the game to stay within striking distance. Walker’s third triple of the night with 4.3 seconds to play made it an 81-79 game and gave him 22 points in the second half.
But the Bears were solid at the stripe when it counted, going 8-for-8 at the foul line in the final minute with Rhodes making the first four and Ryan Kreklow hitting the last four to ice the win. Kreklow’s pair with 3.6 seconds on the clock all but secured victory in the deciding moments and gave him 11 points on the night.
MSU’s ninth wire-to-wire victory of the year saw it convert 28-of-64 (.438) shots overall, 7-of-17 (.412) from 3-point range and 20-of-27 (.741) from the foul line. The Bears turned the ball over just eight times and blocked six shots – three by Obediah Church.
Coach Paul Lusk’s squad notched 18 offensive rebounds on the night – eight by Johnson — leading to 18 second-chance points.
Valparaiso finished 25-of-54 (.463) overall from the field and 10-of-18 (.556) from bonus distance. The Crusaders were 19-of-25 (.760) at the stripe and made 15-of-19 in the second half. VU’s Bakari Evelyn, who finished with 13 points, missed all three free throws in a pivotal sequence with 2:17 to play and VU trailing by six.
In the first half, the Bears shot 46.9 percent with just two turnovers to lead 39-33 at the midway point. Johnson was near a double-double through 20 minutes with 9 points and 11 rebounds.
Johnson scored all seven Bears’ points during a 7-3 run late in the opening half to put MSU ahead 34-27. The Crusaders answered with a 3-pointer by Micah Bradford to get Valpo within four. But then J.T. Miller scored up close, and Rhodes knocked down a corner triple on MSU’s next trip to put the Bears up 39-30 with 2:08 left in the half, their biggest lead of the period.
Missouri State will now look to avenge a pair of regular-season losses to No. 2 seed Southern Illinois (19-12) Friday at 6 p.m. in the third quarterfinal game at Scottrade Center.
