Booker Woodfox hits this shot to beat Wichita State in 2009, the No. 12 on the list.
ST. LOUIS, Mo. -- Deon Jackson’s buzzer-beating three-pointer that gave Bradley a 64-62 victory over Missouri State in the semifinals of the 1996 State Farm MVC Men’s Basketball Championship has been selected as the top moment in Arch Madness history by a vote of the league’s fans.
Creighton had four moments selected among the top-20 in Arch Madness history, including the No. 2, No. 3, No. 8 and No. 12 highlights since the tournament moved to St. Louis in 1991.
In a two-month, online voting campaign sponsored by Fox Sports Midwest, Missouri Valley Conference fans chose from a list of 33 State Farm MVC Men’s Basketball Championship flashbacks to determine the Top 20 Arch Madness Moments since the first St. Louis-based tournament was played at Kiel Auditorium in 1991.
Fox Sports Midwest, home of the 2010 State Farm MVC Men’s Basketball Championship quarterfinals and semifinals, produced 30-second spots that aired on the league’s tournament web site -- www.archmadness.com -- and during Fox Sports Midwest programming to promote the Top 20 Arch Madness Moment voting.
Jackson, who had not hit a three-pointer all season, grabbed a loose ball 25 feet from the basket, flung the basketball toward the goal and hit nothing but net as time expired to send the Braves to their first Arch Madness final.
In addition to Jackson’s exploits in 1996, the other top five moments include Creighton’s Nate Funk leading the Bluejays to the 2007 Arch Madness title in front of a soldout Scottrade Center crowd, Bluejay Bob Harstad pacing CU to the first Arch Madness crown in 1991, Illinois State’s Osiris Eldridge nearly leading the Redbirds to the 2009 championship and UNI’s Ben Jacobson helping the Panthers take the 2004 crown in double-overtime against Missouri State.
The remainder of the top 10 moments include Indiana State’s Michael Menser collecting had 32 points in the 2001 semifinals versus Creighton, a buzzer-beating jumper by Illinois State’s Shawn Jeppson versus Drake in 2002, Creighton’s Ryan Sears taming of Missouri State in the 2000 Arch Madness final, Chris Lowery of Southern Illinois hitting a last-second shot versus Missouri State in the 1994 quarterfinals and Wichita State’s tourney-record ticket sales in 2007.
All Top 20 Moments -- a complete list accompanies this release -- will be shown on the video board at Scottrade Center during the 2010 State Farm MVC Men’s Basketball Championship on Thursday-Sunday, March 4-7. For tickets, visit www.archmadness.com or call TicketMaster at 314/241-1888.
TOP 20 ARCH MADNESS MOMENTS presented by Fox Sports Midwest
#1 -- Deon’s Heave Was Bradley’s Gain – March 3, 1996 A buzzer beater in 1996 as Bradley’s Deon Jackson threw in a three-point shot -- his only three of the season -- as the regular-season champion Braves reached their first Arch Madness final.
#2 -- Bring on the Funk – March 4, 2007 2007 tournament most outstanding player Nate Funk of Creighton scored a total of 51 points in his final two games. The Bluejays notched their sixth Arch Madness title in front of a Scottrade Center and tournament record crowd of 22,612.
#3 -- Harstad Hammers Bears – March 5, 1991 After a double-double in the semis, Creighton forward Bob Harstad collected 16 points and nine boards to beat Missouri State in 1991 -- the first-ever St. Louis championship game -- played at Kiel Auditorium.
#4 -- O My – March 8, 2009 Illinois State’s Osiris Eldridge averaged 19 points per tilt but became the second player in tourney history to earn Most Outstanding Player honors on a losing team as UNI took the title in overtime.
#5 -- Jacobson Was the Man – March 8, 2004 In the 2004 finals, Ben Jacobson’s 26 points gave UNI its first Arch Madness crown, a double-overtime win over Missouri State. It was the first overtime final in Arch Madness history and the only double-overtime title game in MVC tournament history.
#6 -- What a Menser He Was – March 5, 2001 Indiana State’s Michael Menser became just the fifth player to score 32 or more points in St. Louis as the fifth-seeded Sycamores upset Creighton in the 2001 semis. ISU went on to become lowest seed ever to win Arch Madness.
#7 -- Jeppson Jumper Downs Drake – March 2, 2002 After Drake’s Luke McDonald hit a three-pointer with a minute left, the Bulldogs had a five-point lead but Illinois State’s Gregg Alexander and Shawn Jeppson connected from long distance to rally the Redbirds in the 2002 quarters.
#8 -- Bears Seared by Bluejays – March 6, 2000 In 2000, Creighton point guard Ryan Sears had 15 points, 4 assists and 3 steals, as the Bluejays raced to a 15-point halftime lead then became the third back-to-back Arch Madness winner in St. Louis history.
#9 -- Lowery Sinks the Bears – March 5, 1994 In 1994, Southern Illinois’ Chris Lowery won it for the Salukis, as he connected on the game-winner at the buzzer in a 52-50 win over Missouri State in the 1994 quarterfinals.
#10 -- Shockers Set the Standard – March 2, 2007 Wichita State fans set an Arch Madness record for ticket sales in 2007. WSU sold 2,500 all-session tickets and set a quarterfinal attendance mark when 16,651 fans visited Scottrade Center.
#11 -- Franklin Was Mint – March 2, 2007 In the 2007 quarterfinals, Bradley’s Will Franklin hit a three-pointer with 3 seconds remaining to lift the Braves over UNI. J.J. Tauai tied the game with 57 seconds left before Franklin connected.
#12 -- Creighton Takes WSU to the Woodfox – March 6, 2009 Wichita State trailed Creighton by 16 points with five minutes but rallied to take the lead on a Toure’ Murry three with 7.1 seconds remaining. But Booker Woodfox had the answer with a jumper at the buzzer in the Bluejays’ victory.
#13 -- Can’t Say It Much Less Spell – March 9, 2008 2008 was the year of Adam Emmenecker. The Player of the Year was also the tourney most outstanding player, as Drake claimed its first-ever Arch Madness title and became the first team in ten years to win the regular-season and tournament titles.
#14 -- Rico Was Suave – March 3, 1997 Trailing by nine late in the first half in the 1997 semis against UNI, Illinois State closed the half on a 12-2 run, ignited by head coach Kevin Stallings’ time-out “stare” at officials. Rico Hill scored 18 of his 29 points in the second half in ISU’s victory.
#15 -- Put a Spoon in Tulsa, They’re Done – March 8, 1992 Missouri State played in its second-straight finals in 1992, and all-tournament selection Andre Rigsby and tourney Most Outstanding Player Jackie Crawford led the Bears over Tulsa for a 71-68 win.
#16 -- Baby We Can Drive our Carr – March 6, 1995 MVC Player of the Year and tourney most outstanding player Chris Carr scored 22 points, as SIU notches the only three-peat in Arch Madness history with a win over Tulsa in the 1995 final.
#17 -- Rogers Was a Man to Like – March 1, 1997 Drake turned to Lynnrick Rogers in the 1997 Arch Madness opening round against Wichita State. Rogers hit 14-of-30 shots and scored a St. Louis tournament single-game record 38 points to lead the Bulldogs to victory.
#18 -- Big Bad Dog Moves In – March 1, 2007 Arch Madness 2007 featured the highest scoring game in tourney history. Eight treys by Jason Holsinger contributed to 96 Evansville points but Drake poured in 101, as Nick Grant forced overtime with a dunk and Klayton Korver gave Drake the lead and the win.
#19 -- Snoop Dogg Plays Like Big Dog – March 5, 2006 Tournament most outstanding player Randal Falker collected 17 points and tied an Arch Madness single-game record for rebounds with 16 to key a Southern Illinois championship win over Bradley in the 2006 Arch Madness final.
#20 -- Buie Cut Like a Knife – March 3, 1997 Rallying from a 10-point deficit with eight minutes play, Missouri State received a 25-foot three-pointer from Coleco Buie with six seconds remaining to lift the Bears to a 60-58 triumph against Bradley in the 1997 Arch Madness semifinals.
