Missouri State basketball will host Illinois Chicago in Missouri Valley Conference play on Tuesday, looking to snap a three-game losing streak.
The Bears (7-8, 0-4 MVC) and Flames (9-5, 2-2 MVC) will meet at 7 p.m. at Great Southern Bank Arena. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.
UIC has won five of its last six games, including a New Year’s Day win over then-unbeaten Drake, but suffered a five-point loss at Belmont on Saturday.
Cuonzo Martin’s Bears have lost their last three and are winless in league play. They kept it close with first-place Bradley for much of Saturday, but the Braves pulled away in the second half.
Missouri State basketball’s toughness is only getting it so far
Only during the Bears’ win over Division II Lincoln — which was much closer than it should have been — has their effort and desire been questioned. That’s a breath of fresh air when that had been so inconsistent during the program’s final five years under Dana Ford.
We’ve seen Martin’s trademarked “toughness” keep them in games against Butler and Bradley, the two best teams they’ve faced all year. However, it’s only gotten them so far. Now, at 7-8, they’re below .500 for the first time since losing on opening night.
The defense hasn’t been an issue for a team designed to hold opponents to the 50s and lower 60s. Martin wants to force rock fights, and it was apparent from the offseason roster-building that the Bears didn’t attract too many high-level scorers and would instead lean on forcing rock fights with opponents.
The offense has been a struggle, ranking in the bottom 100 of the country in most categories. They’re not deep, averaging only 14 points off the bench per game. Somehow, 40 teams are shooting free throws worse than the Bears, who are 65.9% from the line, and it’s costing them wins.
UIC basketball off to a good start under new coach Rob Ehsan
The Flames have won five of their last six, including two of three to resume MVC play, and were the first team to beat Drake this season, which has now lost its last two entering a Wednesday night marquee game against Bradley.
The Flames are playing well under new coach Rob Ehsan. They’re led by Sasa Ciani, a 6-foot-9 sophomore forward who averages 11.9 points and 9.2 rebounds. Their leading scorer is Javon Jackson, a Utah State transfer, at 12.9 points per game.
Notably, the Flames feature former Parkview/Hillcrest standout Tyem Freeman, who has started the team’s last five games. Freeman started his career at Missouri State before transferring to Indian Hills Community College. He then attended Central Florida for two years before attending Kent State for one. He’s now in his final year of eligibility with the Flames.
Makhai Valentine appears destined for bigger role
On a team that’s struggling for offense, one of the Bears’ most efficient offensive players appears destined for a bigger role in the coming games.
True freshman Makhai Valentine, who spent last season at Link Year Prep, has averaged a point per minute in his appearances over the last two games. He’s scored 21 points on 8-for-12 shooting while going 5-for-8 from 3.
In his limited minutes, Valentine has a higher offensive rating than Dez White but is still getting fewer minutes than walk-on Logan Epes. One can assume this is Martin wanting to see more consistent defense from a younger player, but for a team that has its offensive challenges, there will come a point when Valentine has to be on the court more than he has been.
Score prediction: Missouri State 67, UIC 64
After losing their last three and being 0-2 at home to start MVC play, the Bears are due to come out on top. A home game against a team that looks to be in the bottom half of the league seems to be an ideal setup, heading into a pair of winnable games against Southern Illinois, which has looked like the worst team in the league early in the year.
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This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Missouri State basketball vs UIC: Scouting report, prediction
