The Drake University men's basketball team continues a stretch of five games in eight days with Monday's game against SIUE as part of the Continental Tire Las Vegas Classic. Tipoff against the Cougars is set for 7 p.m. in the Knapp Center and will be broadcast locally on Mediacom MC22 and ESPN+

Drake begins the week with a 6-2 record after suffering just its second loss of the season Saturday to Iowa State. The Bulldogs led for nearly half that contest before Iowa State closed the game on a 19-5 run. Anthony Murphy matched a career high with 12 points in the loss.
 
Monday's game is the Bulldogs' first in the Knapp Center since Nov. 27. The Bulldogs are 3-0 at home this season and averaging more than 85 points per game in the Knapp Center this season.
 
Senior Nick Norton returns to campus after amassing a 32-to-3 assist to turnover ratio in the last four games with a pair of double-figure assist games including a school-record 17 assists against North Dakota State that was part of a triple-double and 10 assists in his most recent outing.
 
Fellow senior Nick McGlynn is averaging 20.0 points per game in the last four games with a pair of 23-point performances.
 
Drake and SIUE have met twice, the last coming in 2009 with SIUE prevailing, 60-58, with a late rally.
 
Following Monday's game, the Bulldogs will host Rider, Wednesday, Dec. 19, as part of the Continental Tire Las Vegas Classic.