Game #9-Belmont

It's been a while since Valpo was beating up on non-D1 teams in the Beaver Showcase. Since cruising over IU Kokomo, the Crusaders have gone 2-2, with victories over Trinity Christian and Oregon State in the Showcase, but also losses to Oregon and Ball State. This four-game run began at home against the Trolls of Trinity Christian, and was a thorough no-contest. The Crusaders would become the first team in the nation to win five games, in emphatic fashion, leading by 21 at the half and cruising to an 89-42 victory. Valpo was led by Darien Walker, who had a double-double with 20 points, 10 rebounds, an assist, and a steal. Vashil Fernandez also had a double-double, scoring 11 points to go with 10 rebounds, two assists, two steals, and a block. Off the bench, Max Joseph and Lexus Williams each had nine points. Valpo held TCC to just 15 second-half points. The Trolls would be lead by Jordan Perry, who would put up 17 points, four rebounds, an assist, and a block, but Caleb Jonkman (10 points) was the only other player who scored in double figures for Trinity Christian. The game was official for Valpo, but was an exhibition for Trinity Christian.  David Skara sat out for Valpo with an injury, while Shane Hammink served the final of a two-game suspension.

The Crusaders then hit what might be their toughest test this regular season, a game at the #25 Oregon Ducks in Eugene. It was an admirable effort from Valpo, but one that would come up just short in the end by a final score of 73-67. The Crusaders had a two-point halftime lead, but would be outscored by eight in the second half to be defeated. Valpo was lead by Tevonn Walker, who tallied 14 points to go along with three rebounds and two assists. Alec Peters added 13 points, three rebounds, two assists, and a steal, and Darien Walker stuffed the stat sheet with 11 points, four rebounds, an assist, and three steals. Off the bench, Shane Hammink had 10 points in his first game back from suspension. David Skara still didn't return from an ankle injury suffered against IU Kokomo. For the Ducks, Dillon Brooks would be the star, tallying a double-double with 26 points and 13 rebounds, adding in a steal as well. Tyler Dorsey added 21 and Elgin Cook had 13 points. The deciding factor in the game would be free throws, as Valpo attempted six, making five, while Oregon shot 17-24 from the stripe to send the Crusaders to their first loss of the season.

Valpo would conclude its West Coast swing with the de facto championship game of the Beaver Showcase against the Oregon State Beavers at Gill Coliseum. Valparaiso would lead nearly start-to-finish, leading by as much as 17 in the second half and never trailing by more than two. The Crusaders pushed to a nine-point halftime edge, and although they nearly allowed a late Oregon State comeback, Valpo hung on for a 63-57 victory. The Crusaders were led by Tevonn Walker and Shane Hammink, who tallied 15 points each. Alec Peters made an impact inside, picking up a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds, adding an assist, a steal, and a block. Valpo largely limited Oregon State's offense outside of Gary Payton II, who had a double-double with 25 points and 11 rebounds, but needed 25 field goal attempts and three free throws to get his points. The next-highest scoring Beaver was Stephen Thompson, Jr., who scored nine off the bench. With the victory, Bryce Drew earned his 100th victory as Valpo head coach, joining his father, Homer, and J.M. Christiansen as the only coaches in school history to hit that mark.

Valparaiso would wrap up the three-game road swing back in Indiana, playing at the Cardinals of Ball State. The Crusaders would see the return of David Skara from a injury he suffered earlier in the season, but were without the services of Tevonn Walker, who was injured earlier in the week. He was replaced in the starting lineup by E. Victor Nickerson, who would contribute 16 points, five rebounds, four assists, and two steals in return. The effort to come back from a six-point halftime deficit and a Ball State lead that ballooned to 12 in the second half, the largest deficit faced by Valpo this season, was led by Alec Peters. He would score a season-high 28 points to go along with five rebounds and an assist, but it wouldn't be enough to complete the comeback. Keith Carter would miss on a last-second three, and the Cardinals would escape with a 69-66 victory, dropping Valpo to 6-2. Ball State was led by 15 points from Bo Calhoun, and Franko House added 14 and eight boards. The Crusaders would be done in by poor free throw shooting, as they shot just 13-21 for the game.

Tonight, the Crusaders will be hosting the Belmont Bruins (5-3, 0-0 OVC) in the first game of a home-and -home set. Belmont has won three of their last four games, including a 105-89 win over Lipscomb on Tuesday night. The Bruins are ranked 9th in the CollegeInsider Mid-Major Top 25 and sit 76th in ESPN's RPI. Belmont is led by Evan Bradds (19.5 ppg, 8.1 rpg) and Craig Bradshaw (17 ppg, 48.1 3P%). Valpo leads the all-time series between the two teams 8-1, but the Crusaders and Bruins last met in 2002 at the ARC, an 83-65 Valparaiso victory. Belmont's only victory came in 2001 at the Curb Event Center. The game can be live-streamed on ESPN3.com and will be on the radio at WVUR (95.1 FM) out of Valparaiso. Todd Ickow and David Huseman will be on the call for both mediums. Tipoff from the ARC will be at 7:00 PM.