DES MOINES, Iowa – Between Mitch Mascari's perimeter shooting and Cam Manyawu's work inside, the Drake men's basketball team had more than enough to keep first-year coach Ben McCollum unbeaten.

Mascari hit eight 3-pointers in scoring 26 points, one short of his career high, and Manyawu delivered 13 points and five rebounds after sitting out most of the first half as Drake used a 41-point second half to beat Stephen F. Austin 66-51 at the Knapp Center on Sunday afternoon.

Bennett Stirtz also scored 13 to help Drake (2-0) win for the 23rd straight time at home, tying Houston for the nation's longest active streak. It's the Bulldogs' 45th consecutive nonconference victory at the Knapp Center.

Stirtz added four rebounds, four assists and four steals to his line and turned it over only twice while playing all but the final 54 seconds. The four steals matched his career best and, for good measure, he blocked two shots.

"I thought our guys had a great week of prep," McCollum said. "I didn't think we played our best basketball against York and we had a really good practice either Tuesday or Wednesday where we got back to the basics defensively. [Stephen F. Austin] is a unique team to play because they play so incredibly hard, they sub a ton, and they stretch you out and force so many turnovers. It was a very difficult game, but I thought our kids executed, especially in that second half. Need to make sure that we continue to improve and get our feet back underneath of us and get us ready for next Saturday."

Mascari, one of four players who followed McCollum from Northwest Missouri State, finished 8-for-13 from 3-point range, falling one short of the Drake record and his personal best. Stirtz and Daniel Abreu also hit a 3-pointer as Drake went 10-for-22 from deep.

It was a sharp contrast to Drake's game with Stephen F. Austin last season, when the Lumberjacks burned the Bulldogs with 14 3-pointers and won 92-68 in the Cayman Islands. SFA was just 5-for-15 from behind the arc in this one.

Manyawu spent the rest of the first half on the bench after picking up his second foul just 3:07 into the game. The 6-foot-8 sophomore returned at the start of the second half and made an immediate impact.

SFA was leading 30-27 when Manyawu grabbed an offensive rebound, which was Drake's first of the game, and was fouled as he scored on a putback. He sank the free and scored after another offensive rebound less than a minute later for a 32-30 lead.

Chris Johnson' 3-pointer put the Lumberjacks up 33-32, but that was the last time they led. Mascari knocked down a 3 to put the Bulldogs ahead for good, then hit three more from deep to key a 21-5 run that lifted Drake into a 56-42 lead with 8:06 left.

Manyawu dunked on a follow shot during the run, Nate Ferguson slammed one home on a lob from Stirtz and Mascari capped the burst with a deep 3 from in front of the Drake bench. Two free throws from Mascari and one by Manyawu gave Drake its biggest lead, 59-44, with 5:37 to play.

Ferguson, the lone scholarship player who returned to the team this season, gave the Bulldogs 20 solid minutes, making all three of his shots and grabbing three rebounds.  Abreu also scored six after pouring in a career-high 30 in last Monday's season-opening victory over York.

Chrishawn Christmas led SFA with 14 points. The Lumberjacks, who returned nine players from the team that beat Drake last season, shot just 38.8 percent and committed 19 turnovers, which Drake turned into 25 points.

Drake held the Jacks without a basket through the first media timeout and led 9-3 when Stirtz hit a 3 from the top of the key. A Mascari trey from the right corner gave Drake its biggest lead of the half, 20-16, but SFA answered with a 10-0 run and led 26-25 at the half.

The Bulldogs managed just nine field goals in the opening half, then went 12-for-24 over the final 20 minutes and shot 49 percent overall. They made the most of their opportunities, taking only 43 shots and recording assists on 16 of their 21 baskets.

Drake will return to action next Saturday night against Florida Gulf Coast at the Knapp Center. Tipoff time is 7 p.m.
 
Team Notes
•Drake earned its 23rd straight home victory (dating back to 2023) which ties Houston for the longest active streak in NCAA Division I basketball.
•This marked Drake's 45th consecutive nonconference home victory.
•This also is the fifth straight year Drake has started the season with a 2-0 record.
•Ben McCollum improved his collegiate career coaching record to 396-91 in 16 years.
•Drake shot 50 percent (12-24) from the floor in the second half, finishing the game hitting 48.8 percent (21-43)
•The Bulldogs made 10 three-point baskets, shooting 54.5 percent beyond the three-point arc (6-11) in the second half.
•Drake collected 16 assists, including nine assists (12 baskets) in the second half.
•This marked the second straight game Drake forced an opponent into 19 turnovers.
•Drake scored 25 points off 19 Stephen F. Austin turnovers while collecting nine steals.
•Drake continues its season opening three-game homestand entertaining Florida Gulf Coast this Saturday at 7 p.m.
 
Individual Notes
•Graduate guard Mitch Mascari scored a game-high 26 points including 17 in the second half. That was one shy of tying his career high of 27 points at Washburn Feb. 10, 2024.
•Mascari made an MVC single-game high eight three-point baskets which ranks No. 2 on the school single-game list with Reed Timmer (vs. Indiana State, 2018), Bill Wampler (vs. Mississippi Valley State 2016), B.J. Windhorst (vs. San Diego, 1994), Jeff Allen (vs. Colorado State, 1992) and Eric Berger (vs. Mississippi Valley State, 1988).
•Mascari's eight three-point baskets also is tied for No. 2 on the NCAA Division I single-game list this season
•All of Mascari's 10 baskets this season have been beyond the three-point line. He is shooting (10-20) this season.
•Bennett Stirtz and Cam Manyawu added 13 points apiece.
•Stirtz also collected four assists and a game-high four steals which tied his career high.
•After playing just 3:07 in the first half, Manyawu scored all 13 points in the second half while grabbing a team-high five rebounds along with two steals.
•Senior Nate Ferguson came off the bench scoring six points with four points coming off dunks.
 
The Series
•Drake earned its first win in three meetings after Stephen F. Austin, while avenging a 92-68 loss in the second round of the 2023 Cayman Islands Classic.
•The Bulldogs are 1-1 against Stephen F. Austin in Des Moines after the Lumberjacks beat Drake, 66-64, in the inaugural meeting Dec. 13, 2008.