DES MOINES, Iowa – Daniel Abreu played the role of late-game hero from the Knapp Center on Saturday night as he drained the game-winning three-pointer with :23 seconds left to lift Drake (3-0) over Florida Gulf Coast (0-4).
 
FGCU held the ball for one last shot to either force overtime or win the game, but Dallion Johnson missed a jumper as the horn sounded and Bennett Stirtz secured the rebound to keep Drake's home winning streak alive and improve the mark to 24-straight. The Bulldogs also kept their home winning streak intact against non-conference opponents having won 46 consecutive games in the Knapp Center versus non-MVC programs.
 
Abreu ended his night with 17 points and Stirtz led the way for the Bulldogs with 25.
 
The Eagles and Bulldogs battled back-and-forth throughout the contest as FGCU took a one-point lead into halftime, 31-30. After the break, Drake quickly raced out to a seven point-lead, 42-35, at the under-16-minute media timeout riding the hot hand of Stirtz scoring 10 of the Bulldog's 12 points in that span. But FGCU erased that deficit using a 9-0 run to regain the lead at 51-50 with 7:57 remaining.
 
The two sides traded blows over the final eight minutes changing leads multiple times. Following a pair of free throws from Abreu that put the Bulldogs in front at 60-59 with 1:51 on the clock, FGCU had an immediate answer as Rahmir Barno connected with Keeshawn Kellman on an alley-oop to put the Eagles back on top, 61-60 with 1:37 remaining.
 
After misses on both ends from Drake and FGCU, the Bulldogs gained possession with 30 seconds remaining and called timeout. Drake head coach Ben McCollum drew up the play and the Bulldogs executed it coming out of the timeout with Abreu draining the key bucket, which ended a five-minute field goal draught for the Bulldogs.
 
Nate Ferguson was the other Bulldog to reach double figures scoring 10 points on a perfect 4-for-4 night from the field. Zavian McLean, meanwhile, paced the Eagles scoring 17 points on 7-for-13 shooting.
 
"You have to win games when you don't have you best stuff," McCollum said. "We have a term in our program – impose your will – and I thought [FGCU] did that to us tonight, especially to start. I thought that was a hungry team and they have played one of the most difficult schedules in the country up to this point. I was proud of our kids for battling. All the kids that came in, I thought they did their part. We just have to be more ready more consistently throughout the rest of the season."

Drake plays Miami in the opening round of the eight-team Shriners Children's Charleston Classic on Nov. 21 for its next contest.
 
Team Notes
•Drake earned its 24th straight home victory (dating back to 2023) which ties with Houston for the longest active streak in NCAA Division I basketball.
•This marked Drake's 46th consecutive non-conference home victory. That is the third longest such streak in Missouri Valley Conference history.
•This also is the fifth straight year Drake has started the season with a 3-0 record.
•Ben McCollum improved his collegiate career coaching record to 397-91 in 16 years.
•Drake shot 50-percent (10-20) from the floor in the second half, finishing the game hitting 44.4 percent (20-45)
•The Bulldogs out-rebounded Florida Gulf Coast, 29-24, while tying a season high with 10 offensive rebounds.
•Drake scored 17 points off 15 Florida Gulf Coast turnovers while collecting nine steals for the second straight game.
 
Individual Notes
•Daniel Abreu's three-point basket from the left wing with 22.2 seconds proved to be the game winning basket, helping Drake erase a 61-60 deficit.
•Junior guard Bennett Stirtz enjoyed his first 20-plus scoring game at Drake netting a game-high 25 points, including 17 in the second half. It marked his 14th career 20-plus scoring game (13 coming at Northwest Missouri State).
•Stirtz scored 10 of Drake's first 12 points in the opening 4:33 of the second half, making all four shots including two three-point baskets.
•Stirtz grabbed a game-high seven rebounds which also was his season best.
•Stirtz also collected a team-high four assists.
•Abreu scored 17 points, including 12 in the first half.
•Senior Nate Ferguson came off the bench adding a season-high 10 points, making all four shots.
 
The Series
•This was the inaugural meeting between the schools.