The Basics
The Drake men's basketball team returns to action from the holiday break as it hosts Illinois State on Monday, Dec. 29 from the Knapp Center for its Missouri Valley Conference home opener. The Bulldogs and Redbirds are set to tipoff at 8 p.m. CT with the game available to stream through the MVC TV Network on ESPN+.
 
Bulldogs by the Numbers
Drake put an end to a three-game skid in its last time out taking a one-point win on the road at Evansville, 66-65, for its first MVC win of the year. The Bulldogs are 1-1 after opening conference play with a loss on the road against Murray State, 81-72. Drake comes into the week with an overall record of 7-6 and looks to get back to a .500 record in home games with its current mark of 3-4.
 
Drake has been one of the better teams in the league and in the country when it comes to taking care of the basketball. Through games on Dec. 23, Drake is averaging just 9.5 turnovers per game, which is tied for the 18th best mark in the nation. With the Bulldogs limiting their turnovers, Drake currently ranks second in the MVC with an assist to turnover ratio of 1.56.
 
Senior guard Jaehshon Thomas has been performing well in the early portion of the conference season and has been one of the top scorers in the league over the first couple of MVC games. Thomas has been averaging 17.5 points per game over his first two MVC outings this season, which is tied for the sixth-best mark in the league in conference games only.

Drake Leaders
Jalen Quinn l 17.8 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 3.5 apg
Okku Federiko l 12.7 ppg, 6.3 rpg, .602 FG%
Jaehshon Thomas l 11.7 ppg, 2.1 rpg, .434 3pt%

Scouting Illinois State
The Redbirds came into the season as the league favorites in the MVC and have tallied an overall record of 10-3 up to this point. Illinois State is 2-0 in league play taking wins over Southern Illinois and Indiana State. ISU ranks in the top-100 in the NCAA in ten different statistical categories, including 39th in fewest turnovers per game, 52nd in field goal percentage, 57th in scoring defense, and 59th in effective field goal percentage.

Ryan Pedon is the head coach of the Redbirds and is in his fourth season at the helm of the program. Pedon has spent his entire head coaching career at Illinois State and owns a career record of 58-55.

In the all-time series between Drake and Illinois State the Bulldogs trail 42-61. Drake, however, has been dominate in the series more recently winning 10 consecutive games over the Redbirds with the last loss coming back in 2020. Drake has been successful in defending its home court against Illinois State with a record of 27-20 in games played from Des Moines.

Illinois State Leaders
Ty Pence l 12.4 ppg, 4.5 rpg, .646 FG%
Chase Walker l 12.3 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 2.7 apg
Johnny Kinziger l 12.2 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 2.6 apg
 
Up Next
Drake remains at home for its next game as it welcomes Indiana State to town for its first game of the new year on Sunday, Jan. 4. Tipoff is slated for 2 p.m. CT with the contest available on ESPN+.