Valparaiso, Ind. – The No. 25 Drake University men's basketball team overcame a double-digit second-half deficit to improve to 18-0 on the season, defeating Valparaiso, 80-77, on Saturday afternoon at Athletics-Recreation Center. ShanQuan Hemphill paced the Bulldogs with a team-best 18 points (9-16 FG) and a game-high 12 rebounds.
 
"It's a fun challenge, and it's the kind of game you want to be in," said head coach Darian DeVries. "It's a tough, hard conference road game. I really like our guys' grit and toughness and their resolve to figure out ways to win games."
 
Tremell Murphy was productive to begin the game, registering five points and seven rebounds in his first six minutes of action as Drake took an early lead. Valparaiso responded by heating up from 3-point range and reeling off a 14-2 run to claim a 25-19 advantage.
 
The Crusaders connected on one of their first seven tries from deep before hitting eight of their next ten attempts, including five-straight makes to close the half.
 
"I was talking to their coach before the game and told him I really like his team," said DeVries. "They've got some young guys and they play with a lot of spirit and a lot of energy. You saw it in that first half. They can really get it going and put you in some tough spots."
 
Valparaiso outscored Drake, 27-6, from 3 and took a 43-35 advantage into the locker room despite the Bulldogs' control inside the arc.
 
Drake racked up margins of 22-10 in points in the paint and 20-14 on the glass in the opening 20 minutes. As the Crusaders' 3-point stroke cooled in the second half (3-of-12), the Bulldogs' dominance down low heated up.
 
Valparaiso opened up a 10-point margin – its largest of the game – with 15:54 remaining. Drake responded with six-straight made field goals – five of which were layups inside – as it rattled off an 11-2 burst.
 
The defining sequence played out in the closing minutes, as DJ Wilkins claimed two offensive rebounds in one trip down the floor, then nailed a backbreaking 3-pointer to put the Bulldogs ahead 73-69 with 2:29 to play. Roman Penn sank a 3-pointer on Drake's next possession to give the Bulldogs a 7-point lead, their largest of the day, and seal the game.
 
Drake pounded Valparaiso for 13 offensive rebounds and muscled its way to a 47-27 margin on the glass, and the Bulldogs outscored the Crusaders, 50-28, in the paint.
 
Wilkins (10 points) and Penn (10) joined Hemphill, Yesufu (12) and Murphy (11) as Drake registered five double-digit scorers in a balanced effort. Murphy also contributed a season-high 11 rebounds to notch his first double-double of the season.
 
"We've had a couple of close games since we've come back," said DeVries. "Finding ways to win games when it's tight like that is a great sign, and it shows what our group is about and their togetherness and willingness to continue to battle."
 
Drake and Valparaiso square off in their doubleheader's backend with a 1 p.m. tip on Sunday at Athletics-Recreation Center.