Play-by-play notes first half

"Neither team looking sharp in the early game." Thus begins another Valpo game, with Centenary finally breaking the scoreless tie 2 minutes in. Before I knew it, the Gents had shot out to an 8-0 lead before U finally hit a bunny. 10-3 at the first break. Tyrone Hamilton was not playing last year, and the Gents are better this year. Valpo misses a lot of shots, but a Haanpaa 3 and a McPherson lay-up off a steal brings it to 12-8.

WIU meanwhile is losing to ORU, 7-4, and Caleb Green is on the bench. IUPUI is losing at Oakland, and UMKC is leading Chicago State by 1. I can't get the UMKC webcast.

"Valpo is getting the much better shots and they're just not going in!" God, I hate it when that happens.

We seem to be trading baskets, 18-15 Gents 6:25 to go. I keep hearing the Gents missing a 3, I wonder if they have hit any. Haanpaa missed a wide-open 3. Gents just got a few ORs but no points. U finally took it to the hoop with success and can tie the score by hitting the FT. We seem to be hitting our FTs more. All tied at 18.

Valpo has stepped up their defensive pressure and we have the ball again. Missed another drive to the hoop, though. Brandon made a huge block and came down wrong on his ankle and he hobbled all the way to the locker room but turned around and is going to walk it off.

U hits another bunny, Valpo up 20-18. Gents miss another 3, Haanpaa drives to the hoop, but Stallings gets the charge call. Media TO 3:17 to go.

OU's Vova Severovas is apparently having a nice game according to the OU announcers. 28-19 OU with 4:16 to go. Vova hits another in the lane, already in double figures. Final media TO, 30-19.

2:48 ORU 26-16 over WIU final media TO.

U extends Valpo lead to 22-18 with a putback off an OR. Gents finally answer with a bucket. Skogland is playing, which is usually telling. Diebler dekes his man and hits a 3, that's nice to see because you don't see it very often. The Gents missed a shot at the buzzer, halftime VU 25 CC 20.

Other halftime scores: ORU 31 WIU 20 Caleb Green has 12 points. Oakland 35 IUPUI 24. UMKC 35 CSU 33.