The Drake University men's basketball team completed a sweep of Southern Illinois and remained unbeaten with an 86-55 victory at the Knapp Center on Monday night. The margin of victory was Drake's biggest in the 98-game series with the Salukis and fifth-biggest ever against a Missouri Valley Conference opponent.
  
After dominating the first half in building a 41-21 lead, the Bulldogs were even better in the final 20 minutes as they improved to 13-0 for the season -- the best record in the country -- and 4-0 in the MVC. Drake shot 75 percent in the second half (18-for-24) and 59.6 percent for the game and knocked down 9-of-15 3-point shots.
  
The Bulldogs displayed their usual balance on offense and disrupted Southern Illinois all night with their active, hands-on defense, deflecting passes, tipping the ball away and coming up with steals.
 
"I thought tonight was our most complete game on both ends of the floor," said Drake head coach Darian DeVries. "Defensively, we were able to disrupt them, and offensively we were able to get out in transition and shared the ball. I'm proud of the weekend the guys had."
 
Drake's first two players off the bench -- Garrett Sturtz and Joseph Yesufu -- led the scoring barrage.
  
Yesufu, playing only 19 minutes, matched a career-high 16 points on 6-for-10 shooting and Sturtz turned in an outstanding all-around game with 14 points, nine rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block. He made 6-of-7 shots from the field and sank both his free throws.
 
"Our depth has really helped us, I feel like our guys off the bench could start for us," DeVries said. "I love our bench and the energy they bring. They give us a dynamic pop when they get in the game."  
  
Shanquan Hemphill added 12 points and seven rebounds, while Roman Penn had eight points and three assists. Darnell Brodie was effective down low with seven rebounds and six points.
  
Marcus Domask's 13 points led Southern Illinois (7-3, 1-3), which made 4 of its first 6 shots but finished the game at 36.5 percent. The Salukis missed all 11 of their 3-point shots in the opening half. They ended up 7-for-25 from behind the arc.
  
In sweeping the series, Drake held SIU to its two lowest point totals of the season. The Bulldogs beat the Salukis 73-55 on Sunday night.
  
SIU's sharp shooting early lifted the Salukis into a 9-9 tie 5 1/2 minutes into the game, but it did not stay close much longer.
  
Drake reeled off nine straight points to start a 19-4 run that included eight points from Yesufu and the lead kept building from there as the Bulldogs forced the Salukis into difficult, contested shot and controlled the boards. Drake finished with a 38-20 rebounding edge.
  
The Bulldogs came out of halftime a little sluggish and a 7-0 SIU run drew the Salukis to 44-28, prompting DeVries to called a timeout. It turned out to be just what the Bulldogs needed.
  
They held Southern Illinois without a field goal for more than 10 minutes and put together a 19-1 burst in which seven different players scored. By the time Domask ended the Salukis' drought with a 3-pointer, Drake had built a 67-31 lead. The Bulldogs went on to lead by as many as 37 and DeVries was able to get everyone into the game.
  
Only 11 other MVC teams have started a season 13-0 since World War II and eight of them earned NCAA tournament berths.
  
Drake will remain at home for its next conference series, hosting Loyola next Sunday and Monday, Jan. 10 and 11.