Both Missouri State basketball teams host big games this weekend
Great Southern Bank Arena will feature three of the biggest games of the 2023-24 season between the Missouri State men's and women's basketball teams.
Both Missouri Valley Conference first-place programs will visit Springfield with Belmont playing the Lady Bears on Friday night and Indiana State visiting the Bears on Saturday afternoon. The Lady Bears will wrap up the weekend with a game they'll need to win against Murray State on Sunday.
The Lady Bears find themselves in contention for an MVC title but will likely need to win both games to stay in the race. The Bears are competing for a top-four spot in the conference and are hosting one of the better teams to come through the league in recent years.
More: Missouri State basketball's winning streak snapped at Northern Iowa
Missouri State Lady Bears host first-place Belmont on Friday night
The most important game in town this weekend is the Lady Bears' home matchup with first-place Belmont at 6:30 p.m. Friday. If the Lady Bears are going to contend for a Missouri Valley Conference championship, they're going to need to beat Belmont after losing to them in January.
The first game saw the Lady Bears lose 66-55 to the Bruins in Nashville. MSU never led as Belmont built its lead up to 22. Missouri State was held to 35.1% shooting from the field while being outrebounded by 11.
Belmont has four different players averaging more than 10 points per game. It has the top defense in the league in scoring, field goal percentage and 3-point percentage.
The Bruins are tied with Drake for first-place in the MVC with the Lady Bears being the lone team in third place one game back. Missouri State plays Drake only once this year with the date set in Des Moines on Feb. 22. The top four teams in the Valley this year have yet to lose a conference home game.
Men's basketball hosts Indiana State on Saturday afternoon
The best opponent to visit the men's basketball team this season will be Indiana State when it plays the Bears on Saturday at 1 p.m.
Indiana State has been the conference's top team for the entirety of this season. It currently finds itself receiving the 28th most votes in the latest AP Poll and has separated itself as the team to beat in the Missouri Valley Conference.
The Bears and Sycamores played on Jan. 16 amid Missouri State's rough stretch. The Sycamores won the game 88-66 while shooting 55.6% from the field. Ryan Conwell scored 25 points for the Trees with potential MVC Player of the Year Robbie Avila scoring 24 points and grabbing 10 rebounds.
More: Here are the players Missouri State football signed during 2024 National Signing Day
Missouri State is going to need to pull off some upset wins to climb its way back into contention for a top-four spot in the league standings, which would give it a first-round bye into the Arch Madness quarterfinals. The Bears' loss at Northern Iowa put them in a four-way tie for sixth place and a game behind two tied for fourth.
The Bears' remaining schedule includes the Sycamores, a trip to Murray State, a home game against Bradley and a trip to Belmont — all games Missouri State would be an underdog in if the games were to be played today.
Murray State visits the Lady Bears on Super Bowl Sunday
Whether the Lady Bears win or lose on Friday against Belmont, their matchup with Murray State on Sunday at 2 p.m. will hold importance.
The Racers are two games behind the third-place Lady Bears while battling for position in the MVC standings. The top four receive a first-round bye into the quarterfinal round of the MVC Tournament.
More: How Missouri State basketball turned around its season after hope seemed lost
Either the Lady Bears will be competing for a championship at the top or trying to secure a top-four seed at this point come Sunday afternoon. The Racers can't afford a second loss to the Lady Bears after the maroon MSU came back and won 84-74 in Murray on Jan. 28.
Kickoff for the Super Bowl is allegedly at 5:30 p.m.
Missouri State has ticket specials for this weekend
The university is making an extra effort to try and get fans into the arena this weekend.
The school announced all three games include free admission for kids 12 and under in non-assessed seating areas.
Lower-bowl tickets for Saturday's men's game are available for $10 in designated seat-back sections. Women's basketball tickets for Friday and Sunday will be on sale for $5 in non-assessed seating areas.
It's also Missouri State's Hall of Fame weekend
Missouri State will induct a handful of names into its athletics hall of fame with ceremonies on Friday and Saturday. Those being honored include:
Ned Reynolds, media icon
Tahnee Balerio, women's basketball
Dante' Brinkley, baseball
Chelsea Dirks-Ham, swimming
Lily Johnson, volleyball
Paul Le, swimming
Caleb Schaffitzel, football
Wyatt D. Wheeler is a reporter and columnist with the Springfield News-Leader. You can contact him at 417-371-6987, by email at wwheeler@news-leader.com or X at @WyattWheeler_NL.
This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: Missouri State basketball hosts Indiana State in Springfield
