ST. THOMAS, U.S.V.I. – The Drake men's basketball defense clamped down during the final four minutes of the game to not allow a field goal and Roman Penn took control late in a comeback 80-72 victory over Buffalo in the quarterfinal round of the Paradise Jam at the Sports and Fitness Center on Friday (Nov. 18).

"I thought we looked really good at both ends of the floor during the last 10 to 12 minutes," head coach Darian DeVries said. "Defensively, we locked them down a little bit. We had a much better plan of attack in the second half and got it going side-to-side."

The Bulldogs (3-0) were led in scoring by Tucker DeVries, matching his season-high of 22 points. Roman Penn helped Drake close out the game with 12 points and six assists. Darnell Brodie notched Drake's first double-double of the season with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Sardaar Calhoun scored in double figures again contributing 13 points (nine in the first half).

Buffalo (1-3) has lost three games in a row behind a game-high scoring and rebounding output from LaQuill Hardnett (26 points and 12 rebounds). Guard Armoni Foster added 16 points including seven at the charity stripe.

Both teams traded baskets in the early portion of the opening half. Okay Djamgouz drilled a left wing 3-pointer with 9:32 to play in first half to put the Bulldogs ahead 22-20.
Calhoun drained a wing trey of his own at the 5:20 as Drake led 31-27. The Bulls responded with an 11-0 run en route to a 40-33 halftime advantage.

Drake trailed by as many as nine points when the score read 52-43 at the 13:38 mark of the second half. Brodie broke free for a jam with the Bulldogs hanging around facing a 54-49 deficit. DeVries started to catch fire from behind the arc as Buffalo's margin was trimmed to 56-54 a little over the halfway point of the second (9:14 remaining).

Running point, Penn orchestrated the offense and his straightaway trifecta with 5:31 to go snagged the lead for Des Moines' Hometown Team (65-64). The Bulls responded with a quick 5-0 spurt capped off by a LaQuill Hardnet bucket in the paint.

Leading 70-64, Buffalo did not convert another field goal attempt over the remaining four minutes of the contest.

A technical foul on Hardnett set up two free throws by Devries followed by a DeVries triple for a 5-point swing the other way in only seven seconds and a tied ballgame (70-70).

A pair of free throws by Bulls knotted the game again until a Penn layup with 2:08 left in regulation pushed Drake ahead again, this time by a 74-72 count. Garrett Sturtz helped Drake seal the win on a driving layup with under a minute remaining for a 77-72 edge. Three more converted free throws brought the final score to 80-72 in favor of Drake.

"It's so great to see Roman back out there doing what he does," DeVries said. "He's the ultimate closer in a game and he certainly didn't disappoint today."

Drake will play Wyoming (78-71 victors over Howard) in the semifinal round of the Paradise Jam on Sunday, Nov. 20 at 4:45 p.m. (CT).

TEAM NOTES
•Drake is off to a 3-0 start for the third straight season.
•Drake improved its all-time Paradise Jam record to 4-3.
•Drake trailed at half for the first time this season and improved its record when trailing at half to 21-29 during the Darian DeVries era.
•Drake has a 7-1 record on Fridays under head coach Darian DeVries
•The Bulldogs have scored 80 points in every game so far this season, improving their record under Darian DeVries to 44-1 when scoring at least 80 points.
•Drake has scored 80 points in every game so far this season
 
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
•Darian DeVries continues to close in on career win No. 100 by earning his 98^th victory today.
•Tucker DeVries recorded his seventh career 20-point game finishing just two points shy of his career-high (24 points).
•Darnell Brodie recorded Drake's first double-double of the season (10 points, 10 rebounds).
 
THE SERIES
•This was the inaugural meeting between the schools.