ST. LOUIS, MO. -- Josh Young's fade-away jumper from 10 feet with 1.5 seconds remaining lifted the Drake basketball team to a 63-61 come-from-behind victory past Southern Illinois in the opening round of the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament Thursday.

The Bulldogs' first-ever victory as a No. 8 seed in the tournament moved Drake into the quarterfinal round against regular season champion Northern Iowa in a 12:05 p.m. tip-off Friday.

Drake used a 22-10 scoring spree to close out the game.

Trailing 51-41 with eight minutes 41 seconds remaining, the Bulldogs went on a 13-0 run capped off by consecutive three-point baskets from Young to grab a 54-51 advantage with 5:15 left.

The Bulldogs, who lead the MVC in three-point baskets (8.6 avg.), relied on hot shooting beyond the arc during its rally. Drake made four three-point baskets in the last eight minutes, including two apiece from Young and junior guard Ryan Wedel.

Wedel finished with a game-high 19 points including 14 in the second half.

Senior reserve guard Craig Stanley scored six points to fuel the Drake comeback.

But it was a steal by Stanley in the waning moments
along with a pass to set up Young's game winning heroics that drew the praise of Drake head coach Mark Phelps.

"I'm really proud of our team," said Phelps. "You remember big plays. Craig Stanley getting on the floor for a big loose ball...I was really proud of our guys in terms of their effort, their energy, their togetherness. They earned their success tonight."

Stanley hit back to back layups in a 42-second span,  while collecting two assists and two steals in the last 6:28 of the game.

His last layup with 1:46 left gave Drake a 61-59 lead. He then dove for a loose ball on Southern Illinois' ensuing possession with 1:21 left to get a steal.

But senior forward Adam Templeton missed a three-point shot on the next Drake possession.  That allowed Southern Illinois to have a chance to tie the game at 61-61 on a jumper by freshman center Gene Teague with 34 seconds left.

Drake called time out with 24 seconds left. Young took a pass from Stanley with nine seconds left and penetrated to the left side of the key for his game-winning basket over Southern Illinois' John Freeman.

"I've been in that situation a few times where we've hit a shot and left too much time on the clock and a miracle shot was hit on that and we were on the losing side," said Young. "So, I just wanted to make sure I let the clock go down as much as possible.

"I tried to get it around to the 6,5-second area and tried to make a play. My teammates and coaches had had all the confidence in the world."

Young had made just one of his first nine shots from the floor before connecting on his last three attempts to close out the game including two three-point basket.

The 6-1 two-time first-team All-MVC performer collected 14 points, including four free throws that allowed him to become Drake's career leader in free throws made at 440.

Stanley and Templeton added 11 points apiece.

Freshman center Seth VanDeest led Drake with seven rebounds, while Templeton collected six.

The Bulldogs struggled from the opening tip making just one basket in the opening 10:23.

The Salukis took advantage, mounting a 20-9 lead.

Drake shot just 30.4 percent in the first half, but scored the last five points of the first half to trail 27-25.

Wedel then opened the second period with a three-point basket to give the Bulldogs their first lead of the game at 27-26.

Drake hit a sizzling 60.9 percent in the second half while finishing the game at a 45.7 percent clip making 21 of 46 shots.