Skip To Main Content

Drake University Athletics

Schedule

Events

Results

Composite Calendar
Garrett Sturtz vs. SIU
Luke Lu
79
Winner Southern Ill. SIU 13-10,7-3 MVC
72
Drake DRA 15-8,5-5 MVC
Winner
Southern Ill. SIU
13-10,7-3 MVC
79
Final
72
Drake DRA
15-8,5-5 MVC
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Southern Ill. SIU 42 37 79
Drake DRA 29 43 72

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

Sturtz Scores A Career-High 18 Points In A Rare Home Loss For Drake Men’s Basketball

Bulldogs continue homestand Wednesday against Bradley

DES MOINES, Iowa - The nation's ninth-longest home winning streak came to an end Saturday when the SIU Salukis defeated the Drake University men's basketball team, 79-72, at the Knapp Center. The Salukis became the first team to win at the Knapp Center since Jan. 30, 2019, a span of 15 games.

SIU converted on 13 three-pointers, shooting 65 percent from the three-point arc, the most Drake (15-8, 5-5 MVC) has surrendered this season. SIU's Marcus Domask led all scorers with 28 points. 

"Give Southern Illinois credit, I thought they played great," said Drake head coach Darian DeVries. "Their freshman, Domask, was really special, and the way they shot it made it tough tonight."

SIU (13-10, 7-3 MVC) used a 14-0 run in the first half to take a 42-29 lead into halftime with a season-high in first-half points for SIU. The Salukis stretched the lead out to 21 points in the opening minutes of the second half before Drake started to claw back into the game. 

The Bulldogs used runs of 10-0 and 13-2 in the second half to pull within five points with 1:23 left on an Antonio Pilipovic three-pointer. However, SIU would not surrender the lead it held for nearly 34 minutes.

"I thought we had clawed our way back into it and had some opportunities," DeVries said. "We got it down to five and are right there. We couldn't quite get that one more in us over the hump."

Garrett Sturtz helped key that second-half run as he finished with a career-high 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting with seven rebounds. Noah Thomas poured in a season-high 13 points as well.

"I thought Garrett was tremendous with his effort and tenacity to the rebound and come up with loose balls," DeVries said. "He was a huge reason why we mounted that comeback in the second half. He made some big plays, and that is what he does every day. He brings his lunch box and goes to work."

Anthony Murphy and Roman Penn both added nine points for the Bulldogs while Murphy nabbed a team-high eight rebounds to help the Bulldogs outrebounded the Salukis 32-26.

The Bulldogs debuted their Des Moines' Hometown Team uniforms inspired by the team's home city in front of a season-high crowd of 4,030. 

"The crowd was tremendous and I'm so appreciative of everybody that came out and supported us," DeVries said. "They made a huge impact on the game that second half. I thought they helped rattle SIU a bit, get them off their game a little bit and I thought our guys were energized by it."

The Bulldogs return to the Knapp Center Wednesday, Feb. 5, against Bradley (15-7, 6-3 MVC). Tipoff is set for 8 p.m.
Print Friendly Version