THE BASICS
Drake men's basketball welcomes Southern Illinois to the Knapp Center on Wednesday for a 7 p.m. tip-off looking to extend its 17-game home winning streak. 

RELAYS NIGHT
Wednesday night is Relays Night at the Knapp Center with several Drake Relays presented by Xtream powered by Mediacom elements throughout the game. Drake Relays journals will be given away to the first 500 fans. 

Junior thrower Adam Phillips from Drake track and field will reprise his 2023 performance by once again singing the National Anthem. Relays Wellness Challenge winners, Drake Relays committee members and Drake Relays officials will be recognized during the game.

All-Session tickets will go on sale at noon on Wednesday, Feb. 7 at draketix.com/drakerelays.

BROADCAST INFORMATION
Wednesday's game will be televised locally on Mediacom MC22 and stream online via ESPN+ with Larry Morgan (play-by-play) and Adam Emmenecker (analyst). 

LAST TIME OUT
In a battle of two Missouri Valley Conference heavyweights, Drake took Indiana State down the wire in Terre Haute last Saturday before the Sycamores prevailed 75-67, despite a double-double from Tucker DeVries (26 points, 10 rebounds).

BOUNCING BACK
Drake is 4-0 this season in games following a loss and 35-12 under head coach Darian DeVries in games after a loss including a 21-8 mark in games following a conference loss. 

Drake is 20-3 in home games following a loss since the beginning of the 2018-19 season and have won 11 consecutive home games immediately following a loss. 

SCOUTING SOUTHERN ILLINOIS
Southern Illinois enters Wednesday with a 15-8 overall record and 7-5 mark in Missouri Valley Conference play following a 74-71 win at UIC last Saturday. Graduate student guard Xavier Johnson played all 40 minutes against UIC and led all scorers with 29 points (18 points at the free throw line) while dishing out six assists. Junior guard AJ Ferguson compiled a double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds. The Salukis have won three of their last four games.

Johnson ranks second in the NCAA in scoring with 23.5 points per game and he has dished out 139 total assists this season. Nobody else on SIU averages double figures scoring with AJ Ferguson (9.3 PPG) and Trent Brown (9.1 PPG) not quite there. Junior forward Clarence Rupert is Southern Illinois' leading rebounder averaging 6.2 boards. 

Earlier this season on Jan. 13, Tucker DeVries poured in 34 points on 12-20 shooting from the field while Atin Wright and Kevin Overton each added 10 points as the Bulldogs won in commanding fashion in Carbondale, 76-58.

Since the last time Southern Illinois played Drake, the Salukis are 3-3 with all six games decided by a combined 17 points (2.8 average). 

The Salukis are 4-2 on the road this season, just one of four MVC teams with a winning road record thus far.

Bryan Mullins is in his fifth season at the helm of the Salukis with an 82-63 record at his alma mater.

SIU was picked to finish ninth in the MVC preseason poll after losing transfers to Big Ten foes (Marcus Domask – Illinois and Lance Jones – Purdue).

SERIES HISTORY VS. SOUTHERN ILLINOIS

Series | SIU leads 61-44

Streak | Drake, W3

Last 10 | Drake, 8-2

Last Meeting: Jan. 13, 2024 | Drake won 76-58

First Meeting: Feb. 7, 1976 | SIU won 72-57

In Des Moines: Drake leads 27-24

In Carbondale: SIU leads 35-14

A WIN WOULD...
- Extend Drake's home winning streak to 18 games

- Improve Drake to 13-0 at home this season

- Be Drake's fourth straight win over Southern Illinois

- Be Drake's ninth win in the last 10 meetings against Southern Illinois

- Improve Darian DeVries' record as a head coach against Southern Illinois to 11-3

- Improve Drake to 10-3 in MVC play this season

BRODIE ON THE BOARDS
Darnell Brodie is tied for second-most (six) double figures rebounding performances in the MVC this season and has hauled in the conference's most rebounds in a game (18) so far this season. He's the only MVC player with 15 or more rebounds in multiple games this season. 

Brodie is averaging 12.5 rebounds over his last four games against Southern Illinois. He has snagged at least 10 rebounds in all of the last four matchups with the Salukis.

WINNING
Most Wins from 2020-Current (as of 2/5/24)
1. Houston 112
2. Gonzaga 106
3. Kansas 101
4. Purdue 97
5. Drake 96
6. Arizona 95
6. San Diego State 95
8. Baylor 94
9. UAB 92
9. Alabama 92

UP NEXT
The Bulldogs hit the road for Peoria, Ill., to face Bradley on ESPNU Saturday, Feb. 10 at 5 p.m.