DES MOINES, Iowa – Senior Reed Timmer (New Berlin, Wis.) dropped a career-high 39 points in Drake men's basketball 90-76 victory over Indiana State Wednesday night in the Knapp Center.
 
Weeks after he became Drake's all-time leading scorer, Timmer's 39 points are the most by a Bulldog since 2015-16 and the second most since the 1981 season. The career-high came on a lights-out 11-of-19 shooting performance that included going 8-of-15 from three-point range. Timmer's eight three-pointers tied for the second most three-pointers in a single game in school history and the second-most in Knapp Center history. Timmer also added four rebounds and four assists while shooting a perfect 7-of-7 at the free throw line.
 
"He was terrific," Drake head coach Niko Medved said of Timmer. "He just plays with so much confidence and poise. He found himself open early and just got into a rhythm. Every time they were making a run he would come back and make another play."
 
Senior De'Antae McMurray (Alton, Ill.) followed with 16 points going 6-of-9 and also adding three rebounds and three assists. Junior Nick McGlynn (Stoughton, Wis.) joined him in double-digits with 10 points and seven rebounds. Senior C.J. Rivers (Cahokia, Ill.) had a game-high 10 rebounds with eight points and four assists.
 
Drake (15-13, 9-6 MVC) shot an impressive 30-of-56 (53.6 percent) from the field and 13-of-29 (44.8 percent) from beyond the arc.
 
Indiana State (11-16, 6-9 MVC) was led by its two leading scorers, Jordan Barnes and Brenton Scott, who put up 26 and 22 points, respectively. The Sycamores combined with Drake for 26 three-pointers in the game, but just three in the second half as Drake held ISU to 37.9 percent shooting from the field in the period.
 
"You've got to give credit to the offenses," said Medved. "There were some big-time shots made in that game. In the second half we just really had to dig in defensively and we found the stops down the stretch that we needed. We were able to slow them down and keep our pace on offense to hold them off."
 
The Bulldogs opened the game shooting 8-of-9 including a perfect 5-of-5 from three-point range to take a 21-8 lead. After opening 5-of-17, Indiana State fought back with a 16-3 run to pull within one, 32-31. The Bulldogs tried to pull away, eventually reaching a six-point lead, but Indiana State kept it tight as Drake held a 46-44 lead at half.
 
Indiana State opened the second half with back-to-back layups for its first lead since 19:19 in the opening half. The teams continued to trade baskets as Indiana State held a two-point advantage, 56-54 before senior Ore Arogundade (Chicago, Ill.) tied the game at 56. A layup by McMurray followed by back-to-back three-pointers from Timmer gave the Bulldogs a lead they would not relinquish, 67-56. Indiana State fought back to as close as five before a 13-5 run helped clinch the Drake victory. 
 
"We've had our ups and downs this season," said Medved. "These guys have really come together and we're playing meaningful games right now. At the end of February, you have a chance to in March and that's what you live for."
 
Following Wednesday's contest, the Bulldogs hit the road for a Sunday afternoon contest at Missouri State on ESPNU. Tipoff is set for 3 p.m. at JQH Arena.