DES MOINES, Iowa -- The Drake University men's basketball team knocked down a season-high 15 3-pointers and went more than half the game before committing a turnover as the Bulldogs rolled past Chicago State, 87-50 at the Knapp Center on Wednesday evening (Dec. 22).
 
"We were able to find another game on short notice," head coach Darian DeVries said. "I liked our approach today. We have shared the basketball well in these last two games. Hopefully, we can build on this coming out of the break."
 
Senior Ayo Akinwole and freshman Tucker DeVries led the Bulldogs (9-4) with 14 points each in the team's second straight game arranged at the last minute. It was a season high for Akinwole, who transferred in from Omaha, as were his four 3-point baskets.
 
Drake had been scheduled to play Saint Louis in Las Vegas on Wednesday afternoon, but that game was canceled because of COVID protocols in the Saint Louis program. Chicago State originally was to have been Drake's opponent this past Sunday, but had to call that game off. Drake played UT Martin instead, winning 80-54.
 
However, the Cougars were cleared to play at Iowa State on Tuesday night and agreed to play at Drake on Wednesday, starting only 20 hours after finishing a 79-48 loss to the Cyclones.
 
The Bulldogs trailed only once, at 3-0, and did its early scoring in threes. DeVries sank three free throws after being fouled on a 3-point attempt and five of the first six baskets came from behind the arc. Drake didn't get a 2-point basket until Brodie made a reverse layup with some slick footwork under the basket.
 
After missing its first seven shots, Drake went 15-for-24 the rest of the first half in building a 43-25 lead. The Bulldogs then started the second half with a 23-4 run to blow it open. Tremell Murphy hit two 3s in that burst, while Akinwole and Djamgouz each made one. The highlight came when Murphy stole the ball and flipped it to Djamgouz, who lobbed it back to Murphy for a two-handed dunk.
 
Later, DeVries lobbed the ball perfectly to Nate Ferguson for another two-handed slam. The Bulldogs' biggest lead came at 87-43 on Deven Dahlke's layup. Dahlke also hit a 3 for five points -- his first points of the season.
 
11 players saw action for the Bulldogs and nine scored.
 
D.J. Wilkins added 13 points for Drake, 12 in the first half, and Darnell Brodie scored 10 to go with seven rebounds.
 
DeVries reached double figures for the seventh straight game and matched his career high with eight rebounds. Okay Djamgouz added nine points, while Garrett Sturtz finished with eight points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals.
 
Drake went 15-for-32 from 3-point range with Akinwole going 4-for-6 and Djamgouz 3-for-5. Drake did not commit a turnover until the 16:13 mark in the second half and finished with a season-low five.
 
"I really like how Ayo has been playing," DeVries said. "He is steady and knocks down open shots. He doesn't turn it over much. Ayo has done a great job as he has gotten more comfortable here."
 
Drake shot 50 percent for the game (32-for-64) -- the fourth time this season the Bulldogs made at least half their shots.
 
Coreyoun Rushin led Chicago State (4-9) with 13 points. The Cougars shot just 29.5 percent overall and went 8-for-31 from 3-point range.
 
The victory was Drake's 31st straight in nonconference play at home. The Bulldogs play their final nonconference game of the season on Tuesday, Dec. 28, meeting Mount Marty at the Knapp Center at 7 p.m.
 
TEAM NOTES
•The Bulldogs earned their 11t^h consecutive home win
•This also marked Drake's 31^st straight home nonconference win
•Drake has gone 60-8 at home since 2017-18.
•This marked Darian DeVries 79^th career coaching victory at Drake, which ranks sixth on the school's all-time coaching victory list
•Drake moved to 26-4 in December under DeVries.
•Drake made a season-high 15 three-point baskets, marking the sixth time this season the Bulldogs have made 10 or more treys in a game.
•Drake outrebounded Chicago State, 38-37, to improve its record to 8-0 when outrebounding opponents this year.
•The Bulldogs collected 12 offensive rebounds, marking the ninth time Drake has grabbed 10 or more offensive rebounds in a game this season.
•The Bulldogs also improved their record to 34-1 under coach Darian DeVries when scoring 80 or more points in a game.
•Drake's 43 points in the first half marked the fifth time this season the Bulldogs had scored 40-plus points in the first half.
*Drake committed a season-low five turnovers, bettering previous mark of seven vs. St. Thomas
•This marked the second time in a row Drake enjoyed a 43-25 halftime lead which matched the Bulldogs largest halftime lead of season. 
•It also marked fourth game this season in which Drake owned a double-digit halftime advantage.
•Drake shot 50 percent (32-64) or better for the fourth time this season (also vs. Coe, South Dakota, North Texas).
 
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
•Freshman Tucker DeVries, enjoying his seventh straight double-figure scoring game (11^thoverall), shared team-high scoring honors with 14 points, while tying a career high with eight rebounds. 
•Reserve guard Ayo Akinwole also had a season-high 14 points, including a season-high four treys.
•D.J. Wilkins chipped in with 13 points, including 12 in the first half. He had a streak of 16 consecutive made free throws come to an end when he missed the front end of a technical foul shot with 19:15 left in the first half
•Darnell Brodie enjoyed his fourth straight double-figure scoring game with 10 points, including eight in the first half. He also grabbed a season-high seven rebounds.
•Sophomore Okay Djamgouz matched a career high with three three-point baskets for the second straight game.
 
THE SERIES
•Drake stretched its all-time series record against Chicago State to 10-0 with all games played in Des Moines.