DES MOINES, Iowa – The Drake University Men's basketball team claimed a 60-54 victory Wednesday evening over visiting Bradley University in the Bulldogs' first season sweep of a Missouri Valley Conference program since the 2012-13 season.

Freshman Reed Timmer (New Berlin, Wis.) contributed a game-high 19 points for Drake (8-17, 5-8 MVC) to record his fifth straight game with double figures. Senior Gary Ricks, Jr. (Los Angeles, Calif.) followed with 12 points and six rebounds.

“I think it starts on the defensive end and just playing every possession like it's our last,” commented Timmer on the team's performance. “Once we do that and we box out and rebound, every thing else just comes so naturally to us on the offensive end, playing freely and just knocking shots down.”

Both teams got off to a slow start as each suffered a 3:05 scoring drought early in the first half. The Bulldogs put in nine-consecutive points while Bradley (8-18, 3-10 MVC) was scoreless again for more than four minutes with less than eight minutes remaining in the half to give Drake an 11-point lead, 17-6.

Bradley slowly closed the gap with an 11-0 run, tying the score, 17-17. The Braves took a 22-21 advantage thanks to junior Omari Grier's pair of three-pointers late in the first half. Drake suffered a scoring drought the last 3:38 of the half and trailed, 24-21, leading into halftime.

“I really appreciate this team buying into our staff. A credit to them, they've hung in there and we have not splintered or broken,” commented Drake head coach Ray Giacoletti on the team's first game of the season where they have won after having trailed at halftime.

The Bulldogs opened the second half with an 8-0 run, including back-to-back three pointers by Ricks Jr., putting Drake ahead, 33-27. The Bulldogs were 10-of-18 shooting from the three-point arc, and 18-of-37 from the field.

“Confidence is a huge piece of this thing,” Giacoletti said. “This group has done an amazing job of listening and growing and trying to focus on things that help us simply get better.”

Senior Chris Caird (Daventry, England) and redshirt senior Karl Madison (Springfield, Ill.) assisted each other in making two three pointers, giving Drake a seven-point lead, 39-32. Freshman Kory Kuenstling (Dunkerton, Iowa) and Timmer followed up with four points from behind the free-throw line.

Bradley senior Austin Barnes tied the score with a three-pointer, 43-43, with nine minutes remaining in the game to cap an 8-0 Bradley run. Timmer responded quickly with a jumper in the paint.

The Bulldogs and Braves tied twice more in the following three minutes before Bradley took the lead, 51-48, with a three-pointer by junior Ka'Darryl Bell. Senior Bulldog Jordan Daniels (Fontana, Calif.) was quick to respond with his own three-pointer, narrowing the deficit with 4:08 left in the contest, 52-51.

Timmer put in three more points, putting Drake ahead, 54-52, with just over two minutes remaining while Bradley suffered a 4:14 scoring drought. The Braves gained their final two points from behind the free-throw line with 27 seconds left (56-54). Ricks Jr. and Timmer put away four more points off of free throws, leading to the 60-54 final score. Timmer and Ricks combined to go 10-of-10 from the free-throw line as the Bulldogs were a perfect 14-of-14 from the line in the second half.

“We've won four out of the last five. Our defense has stepped up; offensively we're clicking,” commented Ricks. “I'm just excited to finish out the rest of the season and see where we can go.”

The Bulldogs travel to Terre Haute, Ind. to play Indiana State Saturday, Feb. 17. Tip-off is scheduled for 3 p.m. CST