The Drake University men's basketball team makes the short trip to Peoria this weekend to face Bradley for the first time this season Saturday, Feb. 4. Tipoff is set for 1 p.m. at Carver Arena and will be broadcast on
The Valley on ESPN3 and on radio via ESPN Des Moines 1350-AM.
Saturday's game will see the third highest scoring offense in MVC games meet the lowest scoring team as Drake has averaged 74.6 points per game against conference foes while Bradley is averaging just 61.8 points per game against MVC competition.
Junior
De'Antae McMurray (Alton, Ill.) is coming off a career-high 28 points against Wichita State that included him going 5-of-10 from the three-point arc. It was his second 20-point performance of the season and the 11th by a Bulldog this year. He is now averaging 11.7 points per game in MVC action to help Drake to a 5-6 record in the MVC standings.
McMurray's five three-pointers also helped the Bulldogs record 11 as a team in the loss to Wichita State to tie for the most three-pointers the Shockers have surrendered this season and the most in an MVC game. Under head coach
Jeff Rutter, the team has made nine or more three pointers in 10 of 15 games.
Graham Woodward (Edina, Minn.) is also coming off another strong performance and has scored 44 points on 16-of-30 shooting with 12 assists during the last five games.
Him and McMurray at the point have also helped limit turnovers as of late with the Bulldogs committing just 9.3 turnovers per game during the last three games, five fewer than their season average. Against Wichita State, Drake committed just eight turnovers, the fewest against the Shockers this season.
Bradley has dropped six-straight games and is 3-8 in conference play this season. Darrell Brown leads the Braves in scoring with 12.5 points per game.
Following Saturday's game, the Bulldogs return home to host Illinois State Tuesday, Feb. 7. The Redbirds enter the weekend with a perfect 11-0 record in MVC games to sit atop the league standings. Tipoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Knapp Center.
