ST. LOUIS, Mo. – The Drake men's basketball team (8-3) pulled ahead in the second half but could not close out Saint Louis (8-4) in an 83-75 loss at Chaifetz Arena on Saturday, Dec. 17.
Nine different Bulldogs scored including a team-high 15 points from
Tucker DeVries. Yuri Collins and Gibson Jimerson both contributed a game-high 17 points for the Billikens. Collins leads the nation in assists and added to that total with nine helpers tonight.
"That was some of the best basketball we've played all year," head coach
Darian DeVries said. "I loved our movement with 16 assists. We did plenty of good things to put us in a position to win. We have to find ways to close these games out, but we can take a lot of positives out of tonight."
D.J. Wilkins tried to get it going early from behind the arc with a wing triple at the 17:26 mark as the early tally favored Saint Louis 7-5. Entering the first media timeout (15:52), the Billikens were 3-of-5 from 3-point range and led 13-7.
Collins drilled back-to-back trifectas answered by a
Darnell Brodie put-back left of the rim as the Billikens controlled a 21-17 advantage with 12:25 remaining in the opening half.
The Saint Louis lead increased to 26-17 following a circus shot old-fashioned 3-point play by Terrence Hargrove Jr. a little over halfway into the first frame (9:18).
With Brodie and
Eric Northweather having both picked up two quick fouls,
Nate Ferguson checked in off the bench and immediately made a layup with 3:50 left to trim the deficit to two possessions (36-30). The Billikens led 38-30 at the 3:19 mark before Drake went on a run to tie the game at 38 points apiece following a layup by Ferguson off a goaltending goal.
Tucker DeVries stopped, popped and drained a 3-ball for a 41-40 Bulldog edge with 1:08 play that the visitors took into halftime. Drake finished the first half 5-for-5 from the field and on an 11-2 spurt.
Garrett Sturtz came out of the half fired up for nine decisive points including an and-one 3-point play and a floater in the paint after fantastic ball movement for a 50-45 lead with 16:05 to play in the first half.
Sardaar Calhoun was able to set his feet with 13:16 to go for a straightaway triple and 57-51 advantage. Calhoun finished with 10 points on the evening.
Saint Louis cut it down to 61-57 before DeVries faded away for third trifecta of the contest with the Bulldogs ahead 66-57 with 9:12 still to play.
Wilkins tied Josh Young's Drake career 3-pointer record with his 255
th made trey in a Bulldog uniform at the 6:20 mark of the second half for a 69-62 edge.
The Billiken defense tightened as SLU regained the lead at 74-73 with only 2:10 remaining in regulation. Saint Louis put the game away at the free throw line, finishing the night 21-for-23 at the charity stripe. Drake did not make a field goal over the last 4:05 of the game in an 85-73 defeat.
Up next for Drake is the Battle in the Vault hosted at Pinnacle Bank Arena in Lincoln, Neb., on Tuesday, Dec. 20 where the Bulldogs will battle No. 17 Mississippi State at 4 p.m.
TEAM NOTES
•Drake is off to an 0-3 start in road games this season.
•Drake was 12-for-18 from the free throw line.
•Drake has a 7-1 record this season and an 80-11 mark during the
Darian DeVries era when leading at halftime.
INDIVIDUAL NOTES
•
Roman Penn dished out a season-high seven assists.
•
D.J. Wilkins tied Josh Young (2006-10) for the most 3-pointers made in Drake program history (255).
•
Nate Ferguson scored a season-high six points.
•
Darnell Brodie ripped away a team-best eight rebounds.
•
Tucker DeVries has scored in double figures in 10 of 11 games this season.
THE SERIES
•Tonight was the first meeting between the two programs since Nov. 29, 1986.
•Saint Louis leads the all-time series, 54-30.
