THE BASICS
With three games in a five-day period, Drake begins the stretch with a test at league leader Loyola Saturday at 5 p.m. The game will be televised live on ESPN2.
SCOUTING LOYOLA
The Ramblers are currently 20-5 overall and 11-3 in Missouri Valley Conference play after escaping Valparaiso with a 71-69 win on Wednesday night. Loyola trailed 36-30 at halftime and Chris Knight's layup with 57 seconds remaining proved to be the game winner.
Chicago native and graduate student guard Lucas Williamson leads Loyola in points (13.4 points per game), rebounds (4.6 rebounds per game) and total steals (29). Redshirt junior guard Braden Norris averages 10.1 points per game and is shooting be- hind the arc at a 44.3 percent clip.
LOYOLA SERIES NOTES
This will be the 38th meeting between Drake and Loyola in men's basketball. The Ramblers lead the all-time series, 22-15.
Drake defeated Loyola, 77-68 at the Knapp Center in Des Moines during a Whiteout game.
D.J. Wilkins scored a season-high 20 points while
Darnell Brodie ripped away 10 rebounds and added nine points. Chris Knight compiled a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds.
WHERE THEY RANK
Loyola is receiving votes (7) in the USA Today Coaches Top 25 poll. Loyola is currently ranked No. 5 in the CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major poll while Drake is No. 21.
REJECTED BY MURPHY
Tremell Murphy recently passed Kraidon Woods and Ken Maxey for ninth on the Drake career blocks top-10 list.
PENN CLOSING IN ON 400 ASSISTS AT DRAKE
Roman Penn dished out six assists against Missouri State Feb. 9 en route to becoming Drake's career leader in that department at 389, passing previous record holder Glenn Martin who had 384 assists from 1984-88.
Penn tied his season high with six assists in just 13 minutes during a 73-51 home win over Evansville this past Wednesday to bring his Drake career assist total to 395.
UP NEXT
Drake is scheduled for a quick around against Indiana State in the Knapp Center on Monday, Feb. 21 at 7 p.m.
