Before the season, Missouri State was picked by the media to win the Missouri Valley Conference. The MVC announced Sunday morning the Bears officially finished the season in seventh place.
No team in Missouri Valley Conference history picked to win the conference has finished lower than fifth until this season.
The Bears will play No. 10 Valparaiso at 8:30 p.m. Thursday at the Scottrade Center in St. Louis.
Missouri State swept the regular season series against the MVC's newcomers. They beat the Crusaders 67-50 on Dec. 31 and 64-57 on Jan. 17.
The winner of the play-in game will play No.