Skip To Main Content

Drake University Athletics

Schedule

Events

Results

Composite Calendar
Joe Yesufu
Scott Weaver, K-State Athletics
53
South Dakota SD 0-2,0-0 Summit League
69
Winner Drake DRA 2-0,0-0 MVC
South Dakota SD
0-2,0-0 Summit League
53
Final
69
Drake DRA
2-0,0-0 MVC
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
South Dakota SD 20 33 53
Drake DRA 30 39 69

Game Recap: Men's Basketball | | Drake Athletic Communications

Yesufu’s 14 Points Leads Drake To a 69-53 Win and a 2-0 Start

Bulldogs' defense keeps the Coyotes snared all day

MANHATTAN, Kan. - The Drake University men's basketball team got 14 points from sophomore Joe Yesufu to propel the Bulldogs to a 69-53 win over South Dakota Friday afternoon.

The win moved the Bulldogs to 2-0 on the season after Wednesday's win over Kansas State as part of the Little Apple Classic.

Yesufu's performance was bolstered by 13 points from Shanquan Hemphill and Garrett Sturtz.

However, the defense allowed Drake to overcome a slow start before closing the first half on an 11-0 run and commanding the second half.

"I was really proud of when we got off to a slow start offensively, our defense kept coming at them and kept the pressure on in transition," said Drake head coach Darian DeVries. "At the end of the first half, I thought we finally wore into them a bit and were able to make a little spurt. And then came out in the second half and made a big burst in transition and were able to build that lead up."

Drake used that 11-0 first-half run to take a 30-20 lead into halftime on a three-point play from Yesufu as time expired. Then six minutes into the second half, Yesufu hit back-to-back three-pointers, followed by a Sturtz bucket to give the Bulldogs an 18-point, 46-28, lead with 13 minutes to play. 

"It felt great out there," Yesufu said. "Coach had the confidence to put me out there and I wanted to make him proud."

With All-MVC point guard Roman Penn on the bench with three fouls, DeVries was able to rest the veteran guard as Yesufu continued to dictate the game. 

"I thought Joe was tremendous," DeVries said. "When Roman picked up his third foul, he gave us a big burst and hit two big threes in the second half. He was really aggressive and confident. I love what he did. His time was coming, he's one of the most talented guys we have and he's starting to figure it out. He kept the lead extended and kept pushing it forward."

Drake stretched its lead out to as many as 23 points and was never challenged in the final 12 minutes as the defense continued to stymie South Dakota. USD's Stanley Umude, who scored 24 points in the Coyotes' opener against Colorado, was limited to 10 points on 3-of-14 shooting. Drake held USD to 37.3 percent shooting and had eight steals.

"I liked what our guys were doing defensively and creating turnovers," DeVries said. "We've put an emphasis on that to create transition baskets. Their attention to detail and activity in trying to be more aggressive is starting to pay off."

The win improved Drake to 2-0 to start the season and marked the first time since 1921 that the team has started the season with two wins away from home. 

The Bulldogs return to the Knapp Center Dec. 3 to host Omaha at 7 p.m. 
Print Friendly Version