DES MOINES, IOWA -- IUPUI shot a sizzling 76.2 percent from the floor in the second half to rally from an 11-point deficit, spoiling Drake's season opener, 88-82, in the opening round of the Glenn Wilkes Classic Saturday.
Alex Young hit back-to-back three-point baskets giving IUPUI a 83-80 lead it never relinquished.
Drake closed out the game making just one of its last eight shots from the floor.
A layup by freshman center Seth VanDeest (Bettendorf, Iowa) pulled Drake within 85-82 with 13 seconds left, but IUPUI made three of four free throws down the stretch to seal the win.
"We struggled on defense in the second half and weren't able to get shots," said Drake head coach Mark Phelps. "That was the difference in the game. Clearly we have a lot of issues to address defensively."
The Bulldogs played without the services of senior guard Josh Young, a preseason first-team All-Missouri Valley Conference performer who was nursing a hip pointer. Young has led Drake in scoring the past two seasons.
Junior Ryan Wedel (Minneapolis, Kan.), a transfer from Arkansas State, moved from point guard to off guard replacing Young and responded with 23 points.
He opened the game on fire, making his first five shots including four from three-point range in the opening 3 minutes 29 seconds of the game.
"Ryan (Wedel) is a guy we can depend on to hit open shots and be an offensive weapon for our team," Phelps added.
Forward Robert Glenn scored a game-high 37 points for IUPUI, hitting 15 of 17 shots from the floor. Glenn netted 23 in the second half.
The Bulldogs shot 50.9 percent from the floor, while making 13 of 26 three-point shots.
Freshman forward Ben Simons (Cadillac, Mich.) scored 12 points for Drake -- hitting four three-point baskets, all in the second half. He also collected a game-high four steals.
VanDeest finished with 10 points and a team-high six rebounds for Drake.
Sophomore Frank Wiseler (Luxembourg City, Luxembourg), who started at point guard for Drake, added nine points and seven assists.
IUPUI outrebounded Drake, 28-18.
Drake will host Iowa State Tuesday with tip-off at 7:07 in the Knapp Center.
