DES MOINES, Iowa — The Drake University men's basketball team defeated Simpson College, 76-61, Saturday, Nov. 19, afternoon at the Knapp Center.

Drake (1-2) came out of the first half with a 28-22 lead and opened the second period on a 16-5 run to take control of the game and build a comfortable lead.

"By knocking down the first three or four shots in the second half, we were able to play a high-low game and use our size," Drake men's head coach Ray Giacoletti said.

Junior Reed Timmer (New Berlin, Wis.) led the Bulldogs with a game-high 21 points while Ore Arogundade (Chicago, Ill.) was 3-of-5 from the three-point arc to finish with 14 points and two steals. Redshirt-sophomore Kory Kuenstling (Dunkerton, Iowa) added a career-high nine rebounds to help Drake own a 17-rebound advantage over the Storm.

DJ Dafney led Simpson with 13 points, five rebounds and an assist while Sam Amsbaugh added 12 points on 5-of-10 shooting.

In addition to the 16-5 run to open the second half, the Bulldogs shot 51.7 percent from the field and outrebounded Simpson by nine in the second half to eventually stretch their lead to 20 points, 66-46, with five minutes left in the contest. The Bulldogs also got to the free-throw line a 34 times in the win, making 24 of those attempts and 13-of-15 in the second half alone.

"We know we can be a good shooting team and it is kind of a morale thing where once one person makes, others follow," Timmer said. "A big emphasis is that we have is try to get to the free throw line. Once you see the ball go in unguarded, you see the confidence go up. Get to the free throw line early and once it goes in it cascades down."

The Bulldogs travel next to Anchorage, Ak., to take part in the GCI Great Alaska Shootout, Nov. 24-26. The Bulldogs open play on Nov. 24 against Iona at 8:30 p.m. CST on CBS Sports Network.