ST. LOUIS – Junior Richard Carter (Detroit, Mich.) led the Drake University men's basketball team with 14 points in a losing effort to top seeded Creighton, 65-53, Friday in the quarterfinals of the Missouri Valley Conference Tournament. The Bulldogs played with great effort and intensity on defense, but 35 percent shooting on offense allowed the Bluejays to pull away and advance.

“It was a really hard-fought game and I'm proud of our guys,” Drake head coach Mark Phelps said. “In terms of the effort, intensity and urgency, I thought we were really good. I thought our defense was really good and we took care of the ball, we just didn't have enough shots go in.”

After a back-and-forth affair throughout the first half and into the second, Drake had cut the lead to three, 45-42, after a three-pointer from senior Ben Simons (Cadillac, Mich.) with 11:02 to play. Drake then struggled to score, scoring only two points in the next 9:22 and ending the game with 53 points, its fewest of the season.

“We were within a couple points there and they made their run and we weren't able to respond,” Seth VanDeest (Bettendorf, Iowa) said. “Basketball is a game of runs and in the first half and most of the second half we responded to their runs. We just couldn't respond to the last one.”

The Bulldogs (15-17) were held to an unusually low 35-percent shooting from the field, making 21 of their 60 shots and only five three-pointers.

The Bluejays (25-7) were able to hit 48-percent of their shots but just 25 percent from behind the three-point arc. They made 17 of the 22 free throws they attempted to just 6-of-8 from the Bulldogs.

The loss ends Drake's season as the Bulldogs close the season with four wins in their final six games. It also signaled the end of the careers of three lauded seniors, Jordan Clarke (Rockville, Mary.), Simons and Chris Hines (Houston, Texas). The pair was pulled with 59 seconds left in the game to a standing ovation from the arena.

“It's always bittersweet to say goodbye to seniors,” Phelps said. “I don't know that anyone outside of our locker room understands their contributions.”

Simons finishes his career high atop the Bulldog record books. He is eighth in career scoring with 1,372 points and fourth in career three pointers made with 234. Simons scored eight points in his final game in a Drake uniform.

Clarke pulled down 10 boards on the afternoon and added six points. After leading Drake with 16 points last night in the win against Bradley, Hines scored six points on 2-of-8 shooting.

While struggling from distance, the Creighton big men carried most of the weight on the day. MVC Player of the Year Doug McDermott scored a game high 23 points while his teammates Gregory Echenique and Will Artino added 11 and 14 points respectively while helping the Bluejays to a 44-26 advantage in rebounding.

VanDeest was able to work his way inside against a tough interior defense and score for most of the afternoon. He finished with 13 points and seven rebounds in 31 minutes of play.

The Bluejays led 33-26 at the break thanks for 13 points by McDermott. After a 12-12 tie at the under 16 timeout the Bluejays went on a 7-0 run and led 19-12. The Bulldogs battled back and a Hines three-pointer followed by a Simons three-point play cut the led at one, 24-23 at the 5:49 mark.

The turn-around was created by good inside play by VanDeest who opened scored seven points in the half. However, Creighton prevailed on the offensive boards, where Creighton secured eight and scored nine second-chance baskets.

Carter opened up Drake's scoring in the second half with a three-point play that made the score 33-29, Creighton. Five straight points by Simons cut the lead to 45-42 and the lead stayed at three thanks to a big bucket by VanDeest. However, Creighton's answered with their 15-0 run to cut short Drake's hopes of extending its season.