ST. LOUIS — Tucker DeVries and the Drake Bulldogs stored the Missouri Valley Convention’s hopes of two bids to the NCAA Event alive with their 84-80 win over the Indiana State Sycamores Sunday afternoon.
In a contest that noticed DeVries put up 27 factors, the Bulldogs couldn’t be stopped on their method to a second-consecutive convention title. Shutting down Sycamore star Robbie Avila within the course of, Drake ahead Darnell Brodie had 17, together with two huge free throws to seal the sport on the finish. Guard Atim Wright additionally had 17, with 15 of these coming within the first half.
“I feel it simply says rather a lot about our gamers and the management in our locker room and the carryover that we’ve had from 12 months to 12 months with an unimaginable group of fellows that consider in each other,” Drake head coach Darian DeVries stated. “They consider within the course of, they usually know what it means to attempt to get up to now. While you’re capable of do it from 12 months to 12 months, it means you you’ve got a extremely good locker room as a result of it’s laborious to do. That’s why these guys up right here and all these guys within the locker room are particular in that means, so it’s hopefully one thing we are able to proceed to do.”
Going up 17-6 early within the first half, Drake would maintain a sizeable lead all recreation, together with main by 13 on the half. Indiana State went on a 20-3 run within the second half to take a 73-72 lead following an Isaiah Swope four-point play with simply over 4 minutes to play.
However the Sycamore benefit was short-lived because the Bulldogs scored seven straight to open up a five-point edge as soon as once more.
For Indiana State, ahead Jayson Kent led the staff with 22 factors on 9-of-10 taking pictures, whereas Swope had 19 and Avila contributed 15 on a lackluster 1-for-7 from deep. So now the Sycamores should wait to search out out their destiny for the NCAA event.
“Watch them. Discover a higher staff than them,” DeVries stated, referring to Indiana State. “If anyone that’s on that committee is evaluating this staff and also you see their file and what they’ve accomplished this season and the success they’ve had, the effectivity numbers, every part that they requested them to do. They’ve performed the schedule that they performed, they usually performed it effectively, and like I stated, that there’s actually not a lot debate as to whether or not they’re certified to be in that event. That’s a extremely good basketball staff.”
