Braves, Redhawks Ready for MVC, OVC Quarterfinal Showdowns

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (KFVS) – The #2 seeded Bradley Braves (24-7, 15-5 MVC) are set to take on the #7 seeded Murray State Racers (16-16, 9-11 MVC) in the Missouri Valley Conference Quarterfinals on March 7, 2025, at 6:00 PM CST. This will be their third matchup of the season, with the Braves having claimed victory in both prior encounters.

Bradley advanced to the quarterfinals after a strong season, aiming for a record-breaking victory under Coach Brian Wardle. The Braves are riding a wave of momentum, having bested Murray State previously this year.

Murray State secured its position in the quarterfinals by defeating #10 Evansville with a commanding score of 74-53. Terence Harcum was instrumental, scoring 31 points to propel the Racers into this critical matchup.

Despite their lower seed, Murray State’s earlier performances provide them confidence. The competitive nature of their previous games against Bradley indicates that the Braves should remain vigilant and prepared.

Should Bradley advance, they will face the winner of the match between #11 Valparaiso and #3 Northern Iowa on March 8, 2025. The stakes are high for the Braves as they chase a record number of wins in the MVC Tournament under Coach Wardle’s leadership.

In a parallel tournament, the Southeast Missouri State University Redhawks will also start their postseason journey in the semifinals of the Ohio Valley Conference Tournament on the same day. They will take on their opponents at 7 p.m. at the Ford Center in Evansville, Indiana.

The Redhawks have made a remarkable turnaround from finishing 10th in the OVC last season to claiming the OVC regular-season title and earning the #1 seed in this year’s tournament. This milestone marks the first time in the program’s history that SEMO has claimed the top seed.

Under the guidance of Head Coach Brad Korn, this marks the Redhawks’ fourth OVC Tournament appearance in five years. The OVC Basketball Championship Schedule includes first-round games on March 5, quarterfinals on March 6, semifinals on March 7, and the championship on March 8.