The Basics
The Drake men's basketball team looks forward to a pair of non-conference games as the 2024-25 season moves along. The Bulldogs first welcome in-state opponent St. Ambrose to the Knapp Center on Thursday, Dec. 12 with tipoff slated for 7:30 p.m. Thursday's contest is part of a doubleheader with the Drake women's basketball team who takes on North Dakota at 5:00 p.m. Drake then heads to Kansas City, Mo. On Tuesday, Dec. 17 to take on Big 12 member Kansas State as part of the Wildcat Classic for a 7:00 p.m. start from T-Mobile Center.
 
Bulldogs by the Numbers
Drake improved its record to 8-0 overall and 1-0 in Missouri Valley Conference play defeating Georgia Southern and Valparaiso the last time it took to the hardwood. Drake's 8-0 start marks the third time a Bulldog team has won its first eight games to open the season: 8-0, 1970-71 and 18-0, 2020-21. The Bulldogs are also one of eight teams that remain undefeated in NCAA Division I through games played on Dec. 10.
 
The Bulldog defense has proven to be one of the best in the nation through the first month of the season. Through games on Monday, Dec. 9, the Bulldogs are ranked fourth in the NCAA in scoring defense, allowing opponents just 57.8 points per game and T16th in three-point field goal percentage defense with opponents shooting just 27 percent beyond the arc. Drake has held all eight opponents to season lows in scoring at the time when it played those teams.
 
On the offensive end, Bennett Stirtz paces the Bulldogs averaging 18.8 points, 6.0 assists and 5.0 rebounds. He is the only player in the NCAA to hit those marks this season. In his last game against Valparaiso, the junior tied his career-high with 29 points to go along with five rebounds and four assists leading the Bulldogs over the Beacons. He also leads the NCAA in minutes played per game at 38:20.
 
Drake Leaders
Bennett Stirtz l 18.8 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 6.0 apg
Daniel Abreu l 14.3 ppg, 3.8 rpg, .447 FG%
Mitch Mascari l 12.6 ppg, 2.6 rpg, .472 3pt%

 
Scouting St. Ambrose
St. Ambrose has tallied a record of 6-2 on the season and is 1-2 in conference play. The Fighting Bees come into Thursday's contest having fallen to Holy Cross in their last time out, 74-69. St. Ambrose, an NAIA institution, has played two exhibitions against NCAA Division I opponents this season falling in both matchups to SIU Edwardsville (83-49) and Western Illinois (97-64).
 
St. Ambrose is led by head coach Ray Shovlain, who has amassed over 700 career victories in his 42 years at the helm of the program.
 
In the all-time series between the Bulldogs and the Bees, Drake leads by a mark of 4-2. The series dates back to 1943 with the first meeting between the two sides taking place on Dec. 20, 1943. Drake and St. Ambrose played each other four times between 1943-45 and then did not play again for 75 years with the next matchup occurring on Dec. 6, 2020. The last time Drake played St. Ambrose, Dec. 21, 2022, the Bulldogs won 124-48.

 St. Ambrose Leaders
Grant Mason l 14.0 ppg, 3.4 rpg, .532 FG%
Guillermo Narbona l 13.3 ppg, 7.9 rpg, 2.6 apg
Atem Agot l 12.0 ppg, 5.8 rpg, .500 FG%
 

Scouting Kansas State
The Wildcats sit at a mark of 6-3 on the season with wins over Fort Hays State, New Orleans, Cleveland State, Mississippi Valley State, George Washington, Longwood, and UAPB. K-State has suffered losses to LSU, Liberty, and St. John's.
 
Kansas State is coached by Jerome Tang, who is in his third season. Tang has a record of 53-28 during his tenure in Manhattan and was named the 2023 Werner Ladder Naismith Men's College Coach of the Year after guiding K-State to a 26-10 record and a trip to the Elite Eight.
 
Drake and Kansas State have faced-off 27 times against each other with the Wildcats leading the all-time series, 20-7. The last time Drake and Kansas State played was on Nov. 25, 2020, in Manhattan, Kan. and the Bulldogs came away with an 80-70 victory.
 
Kansas State Leaders
Brendan Hausen l 15.2 ppg, 3.0 rpg, .452 FG%
David N'Guessan l 14.2 ppg, 6.8 rpg, .697 FG%
Dug McDaniel l 10.8 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 5.1 apg
 
Up Next
Drake will host Green Bay from the Knapp Center in its last non-conference game of the season on Saturday, Dec. 21. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:00 p.m.