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Drake Faces Belmont in MVC Tournament Quarterfinal Showdown

3/6/2026

Summary

Drake Challenges Belmont

The ninth-seeded Drake Bulldogs will play the top-seeded Belmont Bruins in the quarterfinals of the 2026 Missouri Valley Conference Tournament on Friday at 1 p.m. ET in St. Louis.
Drake holds a record of 13-19 (6-14 MVC) and recently won 67-63 against Southern Illinois, while Belmont is 26-5 (16-4 MVC) and lost 81-74 to Illinois State.
Belmont is favored by 11.5 points, with an over/under of 158.5.
Belmont has won both previous matchups this season, as Drake aims for its fourth consecutive MVC Tournament title and Belmont seeks its first.

Summary

Knights Battle Bears

The eighth-seeded Bellarmine Knights face the top-seeded Central Arkansas Bears in the 2026 Atlantic Sun Tournament quarterfinals on Friday at noon ET in Jacksonville, Florida.
Bellarmine is 13-18 (7-11 ASUN) after beating Jacksonville 82-79.
Central Arkansas is 20-11 (15-3 ASUN) after beating Queens 84-79.
Central Arkansas is favored by 6.5 points.
Key players include Jack Karasinski for Bellarmine and Camren Hunter for Central Arkansas.

History

Historical Context

The Missouri Valley Conference (MVC) expanded in 1991, enhancing competition among teams like Drake and Belmont. This restructuring led to the annual Arch Madness tournament in St. Louis, which determines the MVC's NCAA tournament representative. As Drake seeks its fourth consecutive title and Belmont aims for its first, their rivalry underscores the tournament's lasting impact on college basketball dynamics.

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Drake Challenges Belmont

The ninth-seeded Drake Bulldogs will play the top-seeded Belmont Bruins in the quarterfinals of the 2026 Missouri Valley Conference Tournament on Friday at 1 p.m. ET in St. Louis.
Drake holds a record of 13-19 (6-14 MVC) and recently won 67-63 against Southern Illinois, while Belmont is 26-5 (16-4 MVC) and lost 81-74 to Illinois State.
Belmont is favored by 11.5 points, with an over/under of 158.5.
Belmont has won both previous matchups this season, as Drake aims for its fourth consecutive MVC Tournament title and Belmont seeks its first.

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