DES MOINES, Iowa - The Drake University men's basketball team opened the 2015-16 season by cruising past Simpson College, 97-52, Friday evening at the Knapp Center.
The Bulldogs came out strong during the first half of the game with a 20-0 run that lasted eight minutes, resulting in a 26-6 lead within the first ten minutes of the game. Sophomore Reed Timmer (New Berlin, Wis.) led the Bulldogs with a game-high 19 points followed by Casey Schlatter (Iowa Falls Iowa) with 13 points. Freshman Dominik Olejniczak (Tourn, Poland) finished with a game-high 12 rebounds in addition to his eight points in his Drake debut.
"I was really pleased being able to play 12 guys and get some experience with the scoreboard lit," said Drake head coach Ray Giacoletti. "We have 10 freshmen and sophomores who will grow as the season progresses."
One of those sophomores, C.J. Rivers (Cahokia, Ill.) was a perfect 4-of-4 from the field to finish with nine points and a career-high six assists in 20 minutes of action as the Bulldogs used all 12 available players with none playing more than 22 minutes.
As a team, the Bulldogs shot 69.8 percent from the field with 56 points in the paint. Outside the arc, the team shot 50 percent on 12 shots with Kale Abrahamson (West Des Moines, Iowa) and Billy Wampler (Eau Claire, Wis.) each hitting a pair of three-points. Abrahamson finished with 12 points.
Simpson's Dillon Gretzky led his team with 14 points as the Storm converted on just 29.2 percent of its shots.
"I think it's good for our guys getting out there and being able to play with each other and win the game," Timmer said. "Dominik [Olejniczak] does a very good job of doing what he's asked and he took advantage of the opportunities that were there."
The Bulldogs travel to New Orleans to take on Tulane Monday, Nov. 16. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. with the contest being broadcast on ESPN3. The game will be the sixth meeting between the two programs with the Bulldogs leading the series, 3-2. The Bulldogs and Green Wave last met during the 1994-95 season with Drake falling, 86-72. Tulane opened its season with a 68-67 loss to Alabama A&M.
