The Drake University men's basketball team returns from a more than three-week break Tuesday to resume its season with a two-game series at Missouri State. The Bulldogs have not played since Jan. 4 due to COVID-19 protocols and emerge from the break as one of five unbeaten teams in the nation at 13-0. Despite the lengthy delay, the Bulldogs' 13 wins are still the fifth most in the nation. 

Tuesday's contest will be broadcast on MVC TV affiliates, which can be found here. Wednesday's contest will air on ESPN+.
 
The Bulldogs' return to action will be one of their biggest challenges to date as Missouri State stands at 9-1 overall and 5-1 in league play after defeating Valparaiso twice by a combined 23 points in its last league action Jan. 9-10. On the season, MSU has outscored opponents by an average of 13.6 points per game.
 
However, Drake emerges from its hibernation second in the nation in margin of victory at an average of 24.0 points per game, just 0.1 points behind the national leader, Baylor. That margin has been in part due to a defense that allows just 59.9 points per game, the ninth-lowest average in the nation while holding opponents to 38.8 percent shooting.
 
Drake has won five of the last six meetings between the two teams and two of the last three at JQH Arena.
 
Following the series at Missouri State, Drake returns home to host Illinois State Jan. 31 – Feb. 1 at the Knapp Center. A limited number of tickets are available for both contests by visiting DrakeTix.com.