# Tupuola’s Buzzer Beat Block Lifts Valpo to 63–62 Tournament Win

- Link: https://exclusiveaccess.net/tupuolas-buzzer-beat-block-lifts-valpo-to-63-62-tournament-win/
- Published: 2026-03-06T11:53:25-05:00
- Author: Alex Paz

 

Valparaiso pulled off a dramatic comeback Thursday night, edging Indiana State 63–
62 in the opening round of the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament 
at Enterprise Center in St. Louis.

The seventh-seeded Beacons trailed for most of the game and fell behind by as many
as 12 points, but rallied late behind key plays from Rakim Chaney and Sader Servilus.
Servilus hit a clutch three-pointer with 2:34 remaining to tie the game at 62, capping
a 7–0 run.

Owen Dease then knocked down a go-ahead free throw with 1:17 left, giving Valpo 
its first lead since the opening minutes. Indiana State had one final chance to 
win, but Shon Tupuola blocked the potential game-winning shot just before the buzzer
to secure the one-point victory.

Chaney led Valpo with 18 points, four three-pointers and five assists, while JT 
Pettigrew added 14 points and seven rebounds. Brody Whitaker chipped in 10 points
as the Beacons advanced after overcoming a double-digit deficit despite shooting
just 36.8% from the field.

Valparaiso led for just over two minutes all game, but it was enough to move on 
in the MVC Tournament.