Drake (12-5 SU, 5-10-1 ATS, 3-3 MVC) looks for their first road win when they travel to Illinois-Chicago (9-8 SU, 10-6 ATS, 1-5 MVC) to meet the Flames on Tuesday night at 8pmET from Credit Union Arena.
These teams met for the first time in the Missouri Valley on Dec. 3 with Drake winning 77-64 at home.
Drake (96 KenPom) had lost two straight to Missouri State (52-49) and Southern Illinois (53-49) before finally beating Murray State 82-64 at home on Jan. 7. The problem with those two losses was that both were on the road and the Bulldogs are now 0-5 in true road games, but they are 4-0 in neutral site games and 8-0 at home.
D.J. Wilkins scored 17 points on 6-of-10 shooting (5-of-8 3pt) to lead five players in double gits in the Bulldogs' win over Murray State. Drake shot 48% from the field and 41% (11-of-27) from long range. They also outrebounded the Racers by double digits.
The balance was great,” coach Darian DeVries said postgame to the DesMoines Register. “I thought our ball movement was great tonight, that led to better quality shots. … Add bench production on top of that too, it's so important for us.”
Drake is led by sophomore forward Tucker DeVries (6-7 , 210), who averages 17.8 points per game on 45% shooting (36.7% 3pt) and is the only player averaging in double figures. The Bulldogs average 72.5 points per game on 45.1% shootinga and 34.7% three-point shooting. They allow 63.4 points per game on 40.1% shooting and are holding teams to just 29% (23rd) from long range.