Daniel Sackey gave Valparaiso some good news on a weekend when the Crusaders dropped another Missouri Valley game.
A day after VU lost 76-65 at Illinois State, Sackey announced Sunday on Twitter that he has given a verbal commitment to VU.
Sackey, a 5-foot-10, 170-pound guard from Winnipeg, took his first official visit to Valparaiso the previous weekend.
Sackey had reported offers from Western Kentucky, Stetson, New Orleans, Evansville, Kent State, Winthrop, Stony Brook and Niagara.
He attends Thornlea Secondary School in Ontario after having been at 22 Feet Academy in Greenville, S.C., as a junior and St. Louis Christian Academy as a sophomore.
Sackey gives the Crusaders their second recruit in the Class of 2018, joining Chicago Young guard Javon Freeman, who signed in November during the early period. They have one scholarship remaining for the class, with guards Tevonn Walker and Max Joseph seniors this season and Joe Burton’s academics-related departure from the school at midseason.
The late signing period begins April 11. Coaches cannot comment on a player until signing.
A day earlier, Valparaiso (11-12, 2-8) dropped its fifth straight game. It’s VU’s longest losing streak since 2008.
Sophomore center Derrik Smits had a career-high 17 points. Bakari Evelyn led the Crusaders with 20 points and Walker added 16.
“It’s been pretty hard,” Valparaiso coach Matt Lottich said late Saturday night. “At halftime, I was pretty animated with the guys. After the game, it was more about how we’re going to respond.
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“The character of this team is a being a fighter, and we’re going to continue to fight.”
Valparaiso had no answer for Illinois State forward Phil Fayne. The 6-foot-9 junior matched his career high with 24 points, shooting 11-for-12 with nine rebounds before exiting with 4:19 left when he absorbed a blow to his left knee.
“Fayne was different with how was doing the majority of his scoring,” Lottich said. “He was getting the ball at 12 feet and driving us. We have to man up and be able to defend better one-on-one in those situations.”
The Crusaders missed their first 14 3-pointers before Bakari Evelyn made one with 2:05 left. They shot 37.7 percent (23-for-61), including 3-for-19 from 3-point range.
“It’s been a tough time making open shots for a while now,” Lottich said.
“Our margin for error is really small. When you have lapses or when you’re not shooting the ball consistently, it’s hard to win games in this league.”
The Redbirds also struggled from 3-point range, going 4-for-23. But they shot 68.6 percent (24-for-35) on 2-pointers, dominating the Crusaders on the interior. Illinois State also held a 44-29 rebounding edge.
Milik Yarbrough, Illinois State’s standout 6-6 junior forward, had 17 points, eight rebounds and seven assists.
Illinois State (11-11, 5-5) stretched its advantage to as many as 19 points in the second half after leading 34-23 at halftime.
Lottich liked the way the Crusaders played for most of the first half.
“Coming into the game, we talked about doing your job and executing your assignment and the young guys being more consistent, and for the first 18 minutes we did that,” Lottich said. “We were down 24-20, then they got momentum.
“We put up a fight in the second half, but it’s hard when you’re not making shots.”
Twitter @MichaelOsipoff