ST. LOUIS, Mo. – For the third week in a row Bennett Stirtz has earned a weekly Missouri Valley Conference honor. The junior guard was named the MVC Newcomer of the Week, for the second straight week, the league announced on Monday afternoon.
 
Stirtz averaged 21.5 points, 5.5 assists, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.0 steals in Drake's two wins over Murray State and Indiana State this past week improving the Bulldogs' overall record to 22-2, while maintaining first place in the MVC at 12-2. He led the Bulldogs in scoring in both contests going for 23 points on the road at Murray State Racers and delivered 20 points against the Sycamores. The junior went 16-for-33 (48%) from the field over Drake's two games including a perfect 8-for-8 from the charity stripe.
 
Against Indiana State, Stirtz took control and scored 13 of his 20 points in the second half and overtime. Behind his efforts, Stirtz guided Drake to its 10th consecutive win and improved the Bulldogs' record to 3-0 in overtime contests this season. Once again, the Liberty, Missouri native left it all out on the floor logging 84 out of a possible 85 minutes played in Drake's two games.
 
The Bulldogs take to the court next with a road contest at Illinois State on Wednesday, Feb. 12. Drake will then return to Des Moines to host Bradley from the Knapp Center on Sunday, Feb. 16 in a battle of the top-two teams in the league standings.