The Drake University men's basketball team returns to the Knapp Center where it has won four-straight games to host SIU Wednesday evening in the second meeting between the two teams this season. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m. with the contest being broadcast by Mediacom MC22, The Valley on ESPN3 and on radio via ESPN Des Moines 1350-AM.
 
Earlier this season, Drake fell at SIU, 83-69, on New Year's Day despite 17 points from junior Reed Timmer (New Berlin, Wis.). In his five games against the Salukis, the guard has averaged 19.4 points per game. Since they last met, SIU has gone 3-1 to stand in third place in the Missouri Valley Conference standings at 4-2. Drake is 3-3 in conference games to sit in a four-team tie for fourth place.
 
In addition to Timmer's 17 points in the first meeting, Ore Arogundade (Chicago, Ill.) added 13 points off the bench as part of his recent offensive production.  In the last seven games, he is averaging 13.3 points and 5.6 rebounds per game while shooting 55.2 percent from the field and 50.0 percent (14-of-28) from the three-point arc. He has scored in double-figures in six of those games including a career-high 17 points against Evansville.
 
As a team, the current four-game home win streak is the longest since the 2014-15 season and the Bulldogs last won five-straight home games during the non-conference portion of the 2011-12 season. In those four wins, the Bulldogs have averaged 94.5 points per game while shooting 50.2 percent from the floor.
 
Following Wednesday's game, the team returns to the road to take on MVC leader Illinois State Saturday night at 7 p.m. The Redbirds begin the week at a perfect 6-0 in the MVC.