The Missouri Valley Conference race is heating up as Loyola, seeking a third straight regular-season title, fell into a first-place tie with Northern Iowa, which beat the Ramblers in overtime Sunday. © Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune/Chicago Tribune/TNS Loyola’s Lucas Williamson, center, battles for position with Southern Illinois’ Marcus Domask, left, and Eric McGill on Jan. 16, 2020, at Gentile Arena. Bradley, a surprise winner of the conference tournament last season, has won four of six to sit one game out of first in a three-way tie with Drake and Southern Illinois. The Salukis also are surging with three straight victories, including upending Northern Iowa. Loyola, Bradley and SIU are also on the rise in our latest power rankings of the state’s 13 Division I team. Records are through Monday with last week’s ranking in parentheses. Illinois 15-5, 7-2 Big Ten (1) A six-game winning streak has given the Illini…
Continue Reading: Ranking the state’s Division I basketball teams: Can Loyola stay atop the Missouri Valley? Will Bradley or Southern Illinois challenge?
