CLARKSVILLE, TENN. -- A young Drake basketball team grew up down the stretch Saturday night, holding off Austin Peay, 78-72, to snap a two-game losing streak.

After a three-point basket by Josh Young gave the Bulldogs a 74-64 lead with 2:16 left, Austin Peay reeled off eight straight points to pull within 74-72 following a three-point play by Tyrone Caldwell with 1:05 remaining.

Then Drake made things interesting, missing the front end of consecutive bonus free throw situations by Craig Stanley and Adam Templeton.

Freshman center Seth VanDeest converted a rebound layup following Templeton's missed free throw with 33 seconds left to push Drake's lead to 76-72.

Templeton grabbed rebounds on Austin Peay's next two possessions and helped preserve the victory by making the front end of two bonus free throws in the last 23 seconds.

"I wasn't making my free throws, so I needed to get those rebounds to give our team a chance to win," said Templeton, who entered the game shooting 81.1 percent in his career at the free throw line. "This was a big win for us. We're trying to build some momentum and carry it on from there."

The Bulldogs' inability to finish strong down the stretch proved costly in losses to Akron (63-59) and Central Florida (59-50) leading up to their first road test of the season at Austin Peay.

"We stressed the importance of finishing off games," said second-year Drake head coach Mark Phelps. "Although it wasn't beautiful, I'm proud of our guys.

"Everyone contributed toward a tough road win against an extremely athletic and talented team."

Junior transfer guard Ryan Wedel led Drake with 21 points, including 19 in the first half. Two free throws by Wedel gave Drake its biggest lead of the game at 46-33 with 16:55 left.

Freshman forward Aaron Hawley came off the bench to add a career-high 16 points.

Young, appearing in his 100th game for Drake, added 13 points.

Phelps said a key to the victory was Drake's ability to outrebound Austin Peay, 37-32.  Drake had been outrebounded in all five previous games this season.

VanDeest and Templeton led Drake with seven boards apiece.

"The key down the stretch was getting rebounds," Phelps said. "We grew up on the boards. Seth (VanDeest) is a winner and he made winning plays down the stretch."

Drake shot 50.9 percent from the floor, including 58.3 percent from three-point range, making 13 of 22 three-point attempts.

"It was going to take both ends of court for us to win tonight," Phelps added. "We had some turnovers down the home stretch, but we really grew up tonight and took another step. We need to continue to improve and get better."

Hawley and sophomore guard Frank Wiseler were sparks off the bench in the second half.

Wiseler scored seven points in the second half, while Hawley hit four of six shots from the floor.

Wiseler and Stanley led Drake with four assists apiece.

Wedel took matters into his own hand in the first half, scoring eight of Drake's first 12 points including two three-point baskets.

He broke a 7-7 tie with a jumper off an inbounds pass and a three-point basket from the left wing to give Drake a 12-7 lead.

Consecutive three-point baskets by Hawley gave Drake its biggest lead of the first half at 30-18 with 3:05 left.

After Austin Peay pulled within 35-29, Wedel closed out the first half by scoring Drake's last eight points, including back-to-back three point baskets.

The Bulldogs return home to open a season-long four game homestand this Friday, hosting SIU Edwardsville in the first round of the Drake-Hy-Vee Classic.