The Basics
Drake men's basketball is back in action for a midweek home conference contest followed by a road test over the weekend. The Bulldogs will first host Illinois State from the Knapp Center on Wednesday, Jan. 15, at 8:00 p.m. CT and then take to the road to challenge Indiana State on Saturday, Jan. 18, at 5:00 p.m. CT.
 
Bulldogs by the Numbers
Drake bounced back last week as it put an end to its two-game skid by earning a pair of wins on the road against Bradley and at home versus Evansville. The Bulldogs improved their overall record to 14-2 and their conference record to 4-2 with their victories last week. Currently, Drake sits in second place in the Missouri Valley Conference standings along with three other programs and is one game behind first place Bradley. As it stands, eight teams are within two games of first place.
 
A recent development from the Bulldogs has been the production from its bench. In the game against Bradley, Drake saw its bench score 44 of its 64 points to hand the Braves their first conference loss of the season. Junior Tavion Banks paced the Bulldogs in that outing tying his career-high with 19 points and pulling down seven rebounds. He then followed up with his first-career double-double tallying 11 points and 13 rebounds against Evansville. For the week, Banks averaged 15 ppg and 10 rpg to go along with solid free throw shooting knocking down 14-of-17 from the charity stripe. Other key contributors off the bench have been freshman Isaia Howard and sophomore Kael Combs. The duo of underclassmen combined for 18 points and eight rebounds against Bradley and 16 points and six boards in the Evansville game.
 
One of the staples for the Bulldogs this season has been its defense. The Bulldogs are ranked second in the NCAA in scoring defense, allowing opponents just 57.0 points per game. Drake has held 11 of 16 opponents to season lows in scoring at the time when it played those teams: York (41), Stephen F. Austin (51), Florida Gulf Coast (61), Miami (69), Florida Atlantic (63), Vanderbilt (70), Georgia Southern (47), Valpo (60), St. Ambrose (35), Belmont (46), and Bradley (57). Last Saturday, the 40 points surrendered to Evansville were the fewest points Drake has allowed to a Division I opponent since claiming a 58-40 home victory past Colorado State, Jan. 2, 1992. It also was the fewest points Drake has allowed in a Missouri Valley Conference game since beating Creighton, 63-36, Jan. 31, 1948, in Omaha.
 
Drake Leaders
Bennett Stirtz l 17.3 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 6.2 apg
Daniel Abreu l 11.3 ppg, 3.3 rpg, .424 FG%
Mitch Mascari l 11.0 ppg, 2.1 rpg, .454 3pt%

 
Scouting Illinois State
The Redbirds travel to Des Moines with an overall record of 10-7 and a 2-4 mark in conference play. Illinois State lost both of its outings last week on the road at Evansville and at home on a buzzer beater to UNI. Illinois State's two conference wins have come against Murray State and Southern Illinois.
 
Illinois State is led by head coach Ryan Pedon, who is in his third season. The Redbirds have amassed a record of 36-45 while Pedon has been at the helm of the program.
 
Wednesday marks the 102nd all-time meeting between the Bulldogs and the Redbirds. Illinois State leads the series with a mark of 61-40, but Drake has won the last eight contests, including nine of the last 10. In games played from Des Moines, the Bulldogs are 26-20 against the Redbirds.
 
Illinois State Leaders
Chase Walker l 14.4 ppg, 6.3 rpg, .602 FG%
Johnny Kinziger l 14.1 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 3.4 apg
Dalton Banks l 9.2 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 3.6 apg
 

Scouting Indiana State
The Sycamores post an overall record of 9-8 so far in their 2024-25 campaign and are 3-3 in MVC play. Indiana State has lost its last two, but has been in close battle after close battle during its conference slate as five of its six MVC games have been decided by five points or less. Indiana State travels to Bradley on Wednesday before hosting the Bulldogs.
 
Head coach Matthew Graves is in his first season leading the Sycamores after spending the last five seasons as the head coach of South Alabama. He posted a record of 65-96 while at South Alabama and owns a career record of 74-104.
 
Drake and Indiana State have dueled it out throughout the years, but Drake has the slight edge in the all-time series, 51-49. The two teams spilt their contests during the regular season last year as each side won on their home floor, however, Drake defeated Indiana State in the MVC Tournament Championship to earn a trip to the NCAA Tournament. In games played from Terre Haute, Drake has gone 16-34.
 
Indiana State Leaders
Samage Teel l 17.6 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 4.8 apg
Jaden Daughtry l 13.8 ppg, 4.6 rpg, .626 FG%
K'mani Doughty l 8.9 ppg, 2.9 rpg, .529 FG%
 
Up Next
Drake's next contests will feature a home game against Valparaiso on Wednesday, Jan. 22, which will commemorate Drake Relays Night, and a road battle at Missouri State on Saturday, Jan. 25.