SPRINGFIELD, Mo. - In his final regular season game as a Bulldog, Drake University senior Nick McGlynn turned in a career performance with 22 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks to lead the Bulldogs to a 73-62 over Missouri State to clinch a share of the Missouri Valley Conference regular-season title.

The conference championship is the first for the Bulldogs since 2008 and guarantees the team one of the top two seeds in next week's Missouri Valley Conference Tournament. The Bulldogs finished the regular season with a 23-8 overall record for the third-most wins in school history and a 12-6 league record. 

McGlynn's standout performance was supported by clutch plays down the stretch from the entire roster, including a pair of critical three-pointers from Brady Ellingson and Anthony Murphy to give the Bulldogs a double-digit cushion in the final four minutes. 

"I thought this may have been our most complete game in a while," said Drake head coach Darian DeVries. "Nick McGlynn was special for us today on a big stage playing for a conference championship. He played at the highest level today." 

Jarred Dixon's 18 points led Missouri State (16-15, 10-8 MVC) while Tulio Da Silva added 17 points. 

The Bulldogs built an early lead with a 7-0 run to take a 17-10 lead and later stretched that advantage to nine points, 26-15, on a D.J. Wilkins three-pointer with seven minutes remaining.

However, MSU's Dixon answered back with a pair of three-pointers that keyed an 11-3 Bear run that trimmed Drake's lead to just three, 29-26, with four minutes to play. That surge helped the Bears close the half on an 8-0 run to take a 34-33 lead into halftime behind 13 first-half points from Dixon. Dixon was 3-of-4 from the three-point arc to open the game.

The Bulldogs opened the second half strong, using an 8-0 spurt that included six-straight points from McGlynn to open up a 43-38 lead five minutes into the period. Drake stretched that lead out to nine, 60-51 with less than seven minutes to play.

The Bears threatened twice in the waning minutes of the game with Ellingson and Murphy answering both times. As the offense continued to build a lead, Drake's defense held the Bears to just two field goals in the final seven minutes to secure the conference title.

"We are where we are because of the guys in that locker room and their unselfishness and ability to believe in one another and stay committed to their goals," DeVries said. "These guys have been special all year and as a first-year head coach I'm blessed to have them."

Drake's seed and opponent for next Friday's game at the MVC Tournament will be determined following the conclusion of the regular season this evening.