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Roman Penn at South Dakota
75
Winner Drake DRA 7-0,0-0 MVC
57
South Dakota SD 1-6,0-0 Summit League
Winner
Drake DRA
7-0,0-0 MVC
75
Final
57
South Dakota SD
1-6,0-0 Summit League
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Drake DRA 37 38 75
South Dakota SD 27 30 57

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

Penn’s 25 Points Keeps Men’s Basketball Perfect at South Dakota

Bulldogs win their seventh-straight game by 10 or more points

VERMILLION, S.D. - Drake's Roman Penn poured in a season-high 25 points on 7-of-10 shooting to lead the Drake University men's basketball team to a 75-57 win at South Dakota Friday evening.

The win improved the Bulldogs to 7-0 on the season to tie for the second-best start to a season in school history and the best in 41 years. All seven of Drake's wins have come by double-digits to mark the first time in program history Drake has had seven straight double-digit wins.

Ten of Penn's points came at the free-throw line as he attempted a career-high 11 free throws. His aggression and pace dictated the game as he drew a team-high nine fouls and added five assists.

"He was just aggressive and knew he could get into the paint and make plays," said Drake head coach Darian DeVries. "He got in there, finished plays and drew some fouls. He was on a roll. We took him out to give him a quick rest and never needed to put him back in. Otherwise, he could have had one of those nights where he had 30. I love to see him being aggressive and playing like that."

Penn was one of four Bulldogs in double-figure scoring with Tremell Murphy scoring 15 points while D.J. Wilkins and Shanquan Hemphill each had 12 points. All 15 of Murphy's points came in the first half on a career-high three three-pointers to help Drake overcome a sluggish start to the game. 

South Dakota's defense kept Drake in check for much of the first half, forcing the Bulldogs into more late shot clock situations than usual. However, Penn and Murphy took over late to help Drake close the half on a 13-5 run in the final four minutes to carry a 37-27 lead into halftime.

"We did get off to a slow start and the ball movement wasn't quite our normal selves," DeVries said. "Once we got the ball moving and attacking downhill, I thought we did a nice job and dialed up some driving plays to get to the free-throw line. I thought the guys did a good job of taking what was given to them."

The pair of Penn and Murphy scored nine points during that span heading into halftime and shot a combined 11-of-14 in the opening half to propel the Bulldogs to 46.4 percent shooting to open the game. Penn and Murphy each registered season highs in the first 20 minutes of the game, scoring 14 and 15 points, respectively.

Penn kept that pace up in the second half, scoring five quick points to stretch Drake's lead out to 48-34 as the Bulldogs began to better dictate the flow of the game. The Bulldogs stretched the advantage to as many as 17 minutes later, but a 5-0 USD run started to trim that margin, pressing DeVries to take a quick timeout.

USD continued to stay within striking distance until a 10-2 Drake run, capped by a three-pointer from D.J. Wilkins gave Drake a 19-point, 65-46, lead with 7:30 left in the contest. USD would not mount another charge as Drake pushed its lead to as many as 23 in the final minutes.

Drake shot 47.1 percent in the win and held an 11-rebound advantage thanks to 14 total rebounds from Murphy and Darnell Brodie.

South Dakota (1-6) was led by Stanley Umude's 14 points in 34 minutes. 

The game was the first of three in five days for the Bulldogs as they return home to host Chicago State Sunday afternoon at 2 p.m.
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