Box Score | Updated Season Stats
Drake improves to 16-13 overall, 9-8 in the MVC, assuring the team of a winning record for the first time since 2008-09. Southern Illinois, which was led by Mamadou Seck's 20 points and 10 rebounds, moves to 8-21, 5-12 in the MVC, and will finish in ninth place in the MVC.
Six Missouri Valley Conference teams possess records of 9-8 or 8-9 in league play. Drake travels Saturday to Wichita State, which clinched the MVC regular season crown tonight, for a 12:30 p.m. game to be televised by FOX Sports Midwest. The Bulldogs are tied at 9-8 in the conference with Missouri State, which travels to Evansville for 1:05 game.
Four Bulldogs were honored tonight before their final home game. Kraidon Woods (Henryville, Pa.) and Kurt Alexander (Toronto, Ontario) drew starting assignments, while Cory Parker (Aspen, Colo.) and Greg Whitaker (Fairfax, Va.) saw reserve action in their Knapp Center finales.
Alexander's 11 points were especially meaningful in his send-off, as his parents were able to be in attendance for the first time at Drake. Whitaker also made his mark by converting a pretty reverse lay-in on a second-half fast break, drawing a standing ovation, after knocking down a free-throw for his first points.
Junior Ben Simons (Cadillac, Mich.) gave the team a boost in his return to the lineup after a five-game absence due to mononucleosis. Simons came off the bench to score 14 points and redshirt-freshman Jeremy Jeffers (Wilson, N.C.) added 11.
"Ben adds so much more to our team other than scoring," said head coach Mark Phelps. "He really helps the rhythm and the chemistry of our team, especially at the offensive end and is really an undervalued defender."
Simons, who had not played since Drake's loss at Indiana State on Feb. 1, made an immediate impact after entering the game with 14:25 to play in the first half. He made his first two shots, a tough one-handed runner and a three-pointer from NBA range. The fourth-highest scorer in the MVC ended the night shooting 50 percent from the field (5-for-10, 2-for-4 three-pointers) in 25 minutes.
"It was just great to get back on the court," said Simons. "I've never really missed a game in my life and it was hard for me to sit on the bench and watch my guys out there. As far as my wind and my lungs I was fine but my legs got heavy, especially on the defensive end."
Tough defense set the tone early for the Bulldogs, who forced Southern Illinois into a low shooting percentage throughout the game. The Salukis made just 34 percent of their field goals (21-of-61), including six percent from three-point range (1-for-16). Drake's last two Valley opponents have combined to make just 1-of-36 from three-point range.
Tonight's game was the 14th in a row that Drake has held an opponent to 50 percent or less from the field.
The Bulldogs shot 55 percent from the field (24-of-43) and 62 percent from beyond the arc (5-of-8) on the night. Drake is now 9-0 when shooting 50 percent or better, as well as in games when four or more players score in double-figures.
Drake shot nearly 60 percent in the first half (13-of-22, 59.1%) to build a 38-25 advantage at the break. The Bulldogs never let their lead fall below 10 points after the 4:38 mark of the first half, and led by as many as 18 points in the second half.
Drake is assured of a .500 or better record in the Missouri Valley Conference for just the fifth time since 1986, and has a chance for a winning record in league play for just the second time in that 26-year span. A win Saturday at Wichita State also would tie Phelps' highest win total of 17 in his first season (2008-09).
With a winning record this season Phelps is the first Drake head coach to record a winning record twice in his first four seasons since Maury John (1958-62).
NOTES:
- The Bulldogs improved to 9-0 when shooting 50-percent or higher from the field, and also are 9-0 when four or more players score in double figures.
- Drake's 55.8-percent field-goal accuracy (24-for-43) was its fourth-best of the season.
- Rayvonte Rice notched his third double-double of the season, and fourth of his career, with 19 points and 10 rebounds. It was his first since the Jan. 28 win over Wichita State (19 pts, 14 reb.).
- Rice scored in double figures for the 49th time in 59 career games and grabbed double-figure rebounds for the fourth time.
- Ben Simons scored in double figures for the 41st time in his career.
- Drake honored four players on Senior Night, before their final home game: Kurt Alexander, Cory Parker, Greg Whitaker, Kraidon Woods.
