Valparaiso upsets Northern Iowa in MVC tournament

11th-seeded Beacons take down 3-seed Panthers in quarterfinals

Published on Feb. 18, 2026

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The 11th-seeded Valparaiso Beacons pulled off an upset victory over the No. 3-seeded Northern Iowa Panthers, 64-63, in the Missouri Valley Conference tournament quarterfinals. All Wright led the Beacons with 29 points, including a game-winning layup with 47 seconds remaining.

Why it matters

This is a major upset in the MVC tournament, as Northern Iowa was heavily favored to advance. Valparaiso's win shakes up the bracket and keeps their tournament hopes alive as a lower-seeded team.

The details

Valparaiso, the 11th seed, took down Northern Iowa, the 3-seed, in a close 64-63 quarterfinal matchup in the Missouri Valley Conference tournament. All Wright scored a game-high 29 points for the Beacons, including the go-ahead layup in the final minute to secure the victory.

  • The game took place on February 17, 2026 in the Missouri Valley Conference tournament quarterfinals.

The players

All Wright

The leading scorer for the Valparaiso Beacons, who had 29 points in the upset win over Northern Iowa.

Valparaiso Beacons

The 11th-seeded men's basketball team from Valparaiso University that pulled off the upset victory in the MVC tournament.

Northern Iowa Panthers

The 3rd-seeded men's basketball team from the University of Northern Iowa that was upset by Valparaiso in the MVC tournament quarterfinals.

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What’s next

The winner of the Valparaiso-Northern Iowa game will advance to the Missouri Valley Conference tournament semifinals on February 19, 2026.

The takeaway

Valparaiso's upset win over Northern Iowa is a testament to the unpredictability of the NCAA tournament, where lower-seeded teams can pull off surprising victories and keep their March Madness dreams alive.