TERRE HAUTE, Ind. – In an intense Missouri Valley Conference contest, the Drake men's basketball team clawed back to erase a 17-point first half deficit before Indiana State prevailed with a final push, 75-67 in front of 8,332 spectators at the Hulman Center on Saturday evening.
 
"We had plenty of opportunities," head coach Darian DeVries said. "We got off to such a tough start to the game, but we kept our composure and clawed our way back into it. Once settled in, our guys competed and played their tails off. It was disappointing that we couldn't finish the comeback off."

Indiana State (20-3, 11-1 in MVC play) began the game on a 7-0 spurt and led 17-5 with 13:26 to play in the first half following a straightaway triple by Robbie Avila. The Sycamores took advantage of a Bulldog turnover with a Jayson Kent layup for their largest lead of the night, 24-7 with 10:16 to go in the opening half.
 
As the first half soldiered on, Drake (18-5, 9-3) clawed away at the deficit. Tucker DeVries drilled a top of the key three to trim the tally to 30-25 at the 4:30 mark of the first half. Three minutes later, DeVries floated the ball in for a tied score of 33-33. A hard earned three-point play by DeVries rounded out the scoring in the first 20 minutes of play while Indiana State clung onto a 37-36 halftime edge.
 
With 13:08 to play in second half, Darnell Brodie entered foul trouble with four personal fouls before he eventually fouled out with 3:44 remaining.
 
Six minutes were ticking on the clock in a tie game (57-57) when Conor Enright drove through traffic and made a layup while he was fouled. Enright converted on the old fashioned three-point play.
 
The Sycamores responded with an 8-0 run and led 67-64 with 1:08 remaining as Kevin Overton drained the equalizing corner trey with Nate Ferguson fouled away from the ball immediately following the basket. Ferguson missed the ensuing two free throw attempts before Robbie Avila hit a clutch three-pointer for a 70-67 advantage with only 54 seconds left.
 
"Free throw shooting was a big thing for us," Darian DeVries said. "In a game like this, those are your opportunities and you need to convert them." 
 
A couple of good looks did not go down for Drake and Indiana State did enough at the free throw line in a 75-67 decision.
 
"You can't let this one affect the next one (game)," Darian DeVries said. "We have to get ready for a tough Southern Illinois team."

The Bulldogs will head back to the Knapp Center on Relays Night against Southern Illinois on Wednesday, Feb. 7 at 7 p.m.

Team Notes
•Drake to 18-5 overall while maintaining second place in the Missouri Valley Conference with a 9-3 record.
•Drake is now 3-4 in road games this season.
•There were four lead changes and six ties in the game before Indiana State closed out the game with an 8-0 run in the final 54 seconds to break a 67-67 deadlock.
•Drake held Indiana State without a basket during a 7-minute 59-second span (9:33 to 1:34) of the game.
•Drake shot just 52.2 percent (second lowest percentage this season) from the free throw line, making 12 of 23 charity tosses.
•Drake was outrebounded, 45-38, falling to 7-4 when being outrebounded by opponents this season.
•Drake, which trailed 37-36 at halftime, is 3-3 when trailing at intermission this season. 
 
Individual Notes
•Forward Tucker DeVries, enjoying his 11th 20-plus scoring game this season (32nd in career) scored a game-high 26 points, while moving into No. 6 on the Drake career scoring list at 1,585 points passing both D.J. Wilkins (2018-23, 1,565) and Lewis Lloyd (1979-81, 1,577).
•DeVries also grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds to earn his third double-double this season and fourth of his career
•DeVries made three three-point baskets, marking the 11th time this season (35th time in career) he has made three or more treys in a game.
•Freshman guard Kevin Overton added 13 points, while making three three-point baskets. It marked the sixth time this season he has made three or more treys in a game.
•Guard Atin Wright grabbed a season-high seven rebounds.
•Forward Darnell Brodie collected five rebounds to push his career total to 836 which ranks No. 3 on the Drake career rebounding list.
•DeVries made five of six free throws, while having a string of 17 consecutive made free throws come to an end.
•Freshman guard Colby Garland missed his third straight game with a knee issue.
 
The Series
•Drake, which had a two-game winning streak against Indiana State snapped, leads the all-time series against the Sycamores to 50-49, including a 16-34 mark in Terre Haute.
•Darian DeVries' coaching record against Indiana State is now 9-3.