NORMAL, ILL. - Junior Kurt Alexander's (Toronto, Ontario/Pine Ridge Secondary) game-winning three-point attempt as time expired was disallowed thwarting a spirited Drake comeback that saw the Bulldogs drop a 77-75 overtime decision at Illinois State on Sunday (Jan. 30).

The loss drops Drake to 8-14 on the year, including 3-8 in the Missouri Valley Conference, while the Redbirds won their third straight contest to even their ledger at 11-11 overall and 3-8 in league play.

Trailing by nine points at halftime, 32-23, it proved to be a testament to the Bulldogs' resolve that they were able to mount a comeback that was nearly rewarded by Alexander's clutch shot.

Austin Hill missed a jumper with nine seconds left in overtime that was corralled by freshman Rayvonte Rice (Champaign, Ill./Centennial) and moved up the court and eventually into the hands of Alexander in the far-left corner.

The shot hit nothing but the bottom of the net as Drake stormed the court in celebration after an apparent victory only to turn into jubilation for Illinois State after the officials deemed the shot to have been released after time expired.

After picking up two quick fouls in the game and going scoreless in five first-half minutes, Rice scored 15 of the Bulldogs' final 25 points to set the stage for the rally in regulation and near game-winner in overtime.

Rice finished with 17 points, all in the second half and overtime, to headline three Drake players registering double-figure scoring outputs.  Sophomore Ben Simons (Cadillac, Mich./Cadillac) led the Bulldogs with 18 points, including four triples, while redshirt junior Kraidon Woods (Henryville, Pa./Pocono Mountain East) added a 10-point, nine-rebound performance, both career-high marks.

John Wilkins, Hill, Trey Blue and Jackie Carmichael posted 15, 11, 11 and 10 points, respectively, for Illinois State.

Trailing by as many as 13, 56-43, with 9:10 remaining in regulation, Drake used a 24-10 run to assume its first lead of the second half on a follow-up dunk by Woods with 40 seconds left in the game.

A pair of free throws by Rice extended the lead to three, 69-66, but the Bulldogs were whistled for a foul with seven seconds left, on a three-point attempt by Anthony Cousin.  Cousin hit all three shots to square the game.

Drake had a chance for the game-winning shot but threw a pass up the court out of bounds with three ticks left on the clock.  The Redbirds didn't get off a shot and the contest went to overtime.

The Bulldogs finished the game shooting 45.5 percent, including 68 percent in the final 20 minutes, while Illinois State posted a 47.4 percent shooting mark.

The Redbirds won the battle of the boards, 36-34.  Drake committed only 10 turnovers, while forcing Illinois State into 11.

Thanks to 11 points from Woods, the Bulldogs outscored the Redbirds in the paint, 32-28.

Drake garnered a quartet of seven-point efforts courtesy of redshirt sophomore Jordan Clarke (Rockville, Md./Our Lady of Good Counsel), senior Ryan Wedel (Minneapolis, Kan./Minneapolis), Alexander and sophomore Reece Uhlenhopp (Urbandale, Iowa/Urbandale).

Drake got off to a solid start in the game connecting on four of its first eight shots to assume a 13-4 lead.

Illinois State responded with a 14-0 run of its own to take an 18-13 advantage on a three pointer by Blue with 7:07 remaining in the half.  During the span the Bulldogs were just 1-for-10 from the field.

A triple by Wedel ended the run to cut the margin to 18-15.

After a layup by Woods brought the Bulldogs to within four, 24-20, the Redbirds went on a 6-0 run, to assume a 30-20 lead.

Illinois State went into the intermission leading 32-23, on the strength if a 46.2 percent shooting marking in the game's first 20 minutes.  Conversely, Drake shot just 32 percent from the field in the first half.

Uhlenhopp led the Bulldogs with seven first-half points, while Wilkins paced all players with 12 points.

Drake returns to action on Wednesday (Feb. 2) for a Groundhog's Day showdown at Southern Illinois.  Game time is slated for 7:05 p.m. with Fox Sports Midwest covering the game live.