Preview: Valparaiso at Indiana State

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (Interstat) — Two Missouri Valley Conference teams seeking momentum will meet Saturday when the Valparaiso Beacons visit the Indiana State Sycamores at Hulman Center.

Valparaiso (10-11) enters on a sour note, coming off a heartbreaking 78-77 home loss to Belmont on Wednesday. The Beacons have alternated wins and losses over their last six games. Indiana State (9-13) has lost four of its last five, including a narrow 76-74 defeat at Illinois-Chicago on Tuesday.

The matchup features a pair of struggling squads looking to climb the conference standings in the latter half of the season. Both teams have shown an ability to play tight games, with each suffering multiple single-possession losses in recent weeks.

A key player for Valparaiso will be forward Shon Tupuola. He is coming off a 12-point performance in 17 minutes against Belmont and had a dominant 12-rebound, 8-point game at Murray State on Jan. 10. His interior presence will be critical against an Indiana State team that has faced defensive challenges.

The Sycamores will counter with guard Ian Scott, who has been a consistent scorer. Scott has reached double figures in seven consecutive games, including a 24-point outing against Evansville on Jan. 10. He is averaging 15.1 points per game during that stretch and will be the focal point of the Indiana State offense.

In the Jan. 28 loss to Belmont, Valparaiso was led by Rakim Chaney and Owen Dease, who each scored 15 points. For Indiana State in its last outing, Sterling Young added 14 points and six assists alongside Scott’s 12 points.

Historically, the teams have split their last ten meetings. They are scheduled to meet again in Valparaiso on Feb. 15.

Saturday’s contest tips off at 2 p.m. EST as both teams aim to break inconsistent patterns and secure a valuable conference victory.