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DES MOINES, IA - February 19: The Drake Bulldogs play against the Valparaiso Crusaders during a Missouri Valley Conference men basketball game at Knapp Center on Wednesday, February 19, 2020 in Des Moines, Iowa. (Photo by Dylan Heuer)

Men's Basketball Drake Athletic Communications

Men’s Basketball Begins Arch Madness vs. Illinois State

Bulldogs and Redbirds to meet for the second-straight year at Arch Madness

The Drake University men's basketball team begins Missouri Valley Tournament play Thursday evening against Illinois State. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. at St. Louis' Enterprise Center on MVC TV network affiliates.

Inside the MVC footprint, the game will be televised on Fox Sports Midwest, Fox Sports Indiana, Fox Sports Kansas City and NBC Sports Chicago. Outside of the MVC geographic footprint, the game will be available on ESPN+.

Drake (18-13) enters the 30th edition of Arch Madness as the No. 8 after dropping its last three games. The Bulldogs are the No. 8 seed for the second time in tournament history.

Illinois State (10-20) is the No. 9 seed and the two teams split the season series this season. The Bulldogs and Redbirds met last year in St. Louis with Drake winning the quarterfinal contest between the two teams, 78-62. Thursday's game will be the 12th tournament meeting between the two teams and the winner advances to play No. 1 seed and league champion UNI Friday at noon.

Drake returns to the court after collecting numerous all-conference awards earlier in the week as Liam Robbins and Roman Penn were both named All-MVC. Robbins also earned All-Defensive honors while Penn was named to the All-Newcomer team. Robbins' impressive list of honors also included being named the league's Most Improved Player while Garrett Sturtz earned a spot on the All-Bench team.

Robbins led the league and ranked seventh nationally with a school-record 90 blocks this season while averaging 13.9 points and 6.9 rebounds per game this season. In his last game against Illinois State, he posted 14 points and nine rebounds. In two games against the Redbirds, Penn is averaging 9.5 points and 6.0 assists per game.
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Players Mentioned

Roman Penn

#12 Roman Penn

G
5' 11"
Redshirt Sophomore
Liam Robbins

#21 Liam Robbins

F
7' 0"
Sophomore
Garrett Sturtz

#3 Garrett Sturtz

G
6' 3"
Sophomore

Players Mentioned

Roman Penn

#12 Roman Penn

5' 11"
Redshirt Sophomore
G
Liam Robbins

#21 Liam Robbins

7' 0"
Sophomore
F
Garrett Sturtz

#3 Garrett Sturtz

6' 3"
Sophomore
G