DES MOINES, Iowa – The Drake University men's basketball team scored 46 second-half points and shot 72.7 percent in the half to defeat visiting Coe College, 78-53, in the Bulldogs' lone exhibition of the season on Saturday, Nov. 8.
Senior Gary Ricks, Jr. (Los Angeles, Calif.) led all scorers with 24 points in 24 minutes on the court thanks to 7-of-9 shooting and a 5-of-7 showing from the three-point arc. Freshman Reed Timmer (New Berlin, Wis.) had 12 points, two assists and was one of three Bulldogs with six rebounds as Drake held a 38-20 advantage on the glass. JT Vonderhaar and Max Schmarzo led the Kohawks with 11 points each.
Despite the 25-point win, the Bulldogs trailed at halftime, 33-32, after the Bulldogs shot 40.7 in the opening half with Schmarzo scoring all 11 of his points in the half for Coe.
“They gave us enough adversity and forced us to make adjustments at halftime,” said Drake head coach Ray Giacoletti. “Our guys listened and did a good job. What I'm most proud of is on defense forcing misses and getting rebounds.”
Those adjustments helped the Bulldogs build a 10-point lead in the first 10 minutes of the second half with Timmer scoring the Bulldogs' first six points of the period.
“Reed did a very good job and he's a good player that's going to get better,” Giacoletti said. “We'll see him play a huge role in the next four years. It was the first time out for all the freshmen under the lights and I don't think it could have worked out any better for us.”
After building that 10-point cushion, the Bulldogs poured on a 20-6 run to lead by a solid 24-points with just under five minutes to play with Ricks hitting three of his five three-pointers during that span to cruise to the victory.
“He [Ricks] and Karl Madison (Springfield, Ill.), who had four assists, are our leaders,” Giacoletti said. “Karl is our best defender and communicator and those guys are invaluable. You can't put a price tag on that. They've had our backs since day one and we're excited they're healthy.”
The Bulldogs begin the 2014-15 campaign in earnest on Nov. 15 when they host Bowling Green at the Knapp Center. Tipoff for the season opener is scheduled for 2:05 p.m.
