The Basics
The Drake men's basketball team begins the conference portion of the 2025-26 season as it opens MVC play with a road contest against the Murray State Racers on Thursday, Dec. 18. Drake remains on the road later this week as it travels to face Evansville on Sunday, Dec. 21 following the MVC opener against Murray State.
Bulldogs by the Numbers
The Bulldogs will look to snap a two-game skid having lost their last two games from the Knapp Center to UAB and North Dakota State. The Bulldogs are set to play in just their second true road game this season with their showdown against Murray State. Drake won its only prior true road contest this season against Charleston back on Nov. 17, 71-62.
Drake will look to continue its success in the MVC now that the schedule has turned to conference play. On top of winning three consecutive MVC Tournament championships, Drake is the only school in the Missouri Valley Conference to win eight or more league games over the last eight years.
Drake Leaders
Jalen Quinn l 18.8 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 4.0 apg
Okku Federiko l 12.8 ppg, 6.5 rpg, 1.5 blk
Jaehshon Thomas l 10.6 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 2.1 apg
Scouting Murray State
The Racers come into the week with an overall record of 8-3 and have defended their home court well with a perfect mark of 5-0 from the CFSB Center this season. Murray is currently riding a four-game win streak and brings a potent offensive attack averaging 90.5 points per game, which leads the MVC and ranks tied for 16th in the country.
Murray State is under the leadership of first year of head coach Ryan Miller. This season is Millers first as a collegiate head coach having been an assistant with prior stops at Creighton, TCU, and Auburn among others.
Drake has the series lead over Murray State with a mark of 6-3 all-time against the Racers. Last season, the two sides split the series with each team winning on the road. Drake is 2-1 all-time in games from Murray, Kentucky.
Murray State Leaders
Javon Jackson l 16.5 ppg, 2.6 apg, .417 3pt%
Fred King l 12.1 ppg, 8.2 rpg, .712 FG%
Roman Domon l 12.1 ppg, 5.5 rpg, .534 FG%
Scouting Evansville
The Purple Aces have gone 4-8 to start their season and began their week with a loss to Belmont on Tuesday night from the Ford Center in its conference opener. Evansville's biggest win of the season came against Oregon State, 73-69, on Nov. 21 during the Paradise Jam multiple team event.
David Ragland is in his fourth season leading the Purple Aces. He has accumulated a record of 37-74 during his tenure and led Evansville last season to its highest MVC win total since the 2015-16 season with eight victories.
In the all-time series between Drake and Evansville, the Bulldogs lead 36-28. Drake has been dominate in the series winning 13 consecutive games over Evansville with the last loss coming back in 2019. The Bulldogs have had their struggles in road games against the Purple Aces, however, owning a 12-17 record in away games.
Evansville Leaders
Connor Turnbull l 13.9 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 3.0 blk
Joshua Hughes l 9.8 ppg, 5.4 rpg, .441 3pt%
Keishon Porter l 8.3 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 1.5 apg
Up Next
Drake will be back in Des Moines for its next pair of games first hosting Illinois State on Monday, Dec. 29 and then welcomes Indiana State to town to begin the new year on Sunday, Jan. 4.
