The Basics
The Drake men's basketball team, coming off its biggest win of the season over league leader Murray State, returns to the court splitting its next two contests on the road and at home. The Bulldogs first head to Terre Haute, Indiana to battle the Indiana State Sycamores on Saturday, Jan. 24, and then return home to host Evansville on Wednesday, Jan. 28. Wednesdays home game versus the Purple Aces will serve as Drake Relays Night.

Bulldogs by the Numbers
The Bulldogs earned a pivotal win over Murray State in their last time out, which evened their overall record to 10-10 and improved their league record to 4-5. Drake handed the Racers their first lost in league play this season and snapped their 12-game winning, which was tied for the fifth-longest streak in the country. Drake's offense was humming in front of the Knapp Center faithful and scored 101 points en route to victory. The 101 points marked the first time Drake had scored 100-plus points in a Missouri Valley Conference game since earning a 107-105 triple overtime victory at UIC Feb. 28, 2024.
 
Senior guard Jalen Quinn had a career-best outing against Murray State pouring in 34 points to go along with six rebounds and three steals. Quinn went 14-of-25 from the field and connected on six of 10 free throw attempts en route to his 34 points. The 34 points were the second highest accumulated by a player in the Missouri Valley Conference this season. The 34-point outburst by Quinn also tied for No. 40 on the all-time Drake single-game scoring list.
 
Quinn now has nine games this season scoring 20 or more points, which leads the Bulldogs, and has two games with 30 or more (31 vs. Georgia Tech, Nov. 29). He leads the Bulldogs in scoring this season at 18.1 ppg, which also ranks first in the conference through games on Jan. 22.
 
Drake Leaders
Jalen Quinn l 18.1 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 3.4 apg
Jaehshon Thomas l 11.5 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 1.9 apg
Okku Federiko l 10.9 ppg, 5.7 rpg, .542 FG%

Scouting Indiana State
The Sycamores hold an overall record of 9-11 coming into Saturdays contest and are just 2-7 in MVC play this season. Indiana State's two wins in conference, however, have come against Belmont and Illinois State, two teams near the top of the league standings. The Sycamores will look to shake a two-game skid falling to Murray State and Bradley in their most recent contests. All but one of Indiana State's MVC games have been decided by nine points or less.

Matthew Graves is the head coach of the Sycamores and is in his second season leading the program. While in Terre Haute, Graves has amassed a record of 23-29. He has career coaching record of 88-125.

In the all-time series between the Bulldogs and the Sycamores, Drake leads 54-49. Drake currently holds a four-game winning streak over Indiana State and with a win on Saturday would match the longest winning streak in the series history for the Bulldogs. Drake and Indiana State matched up earlier this season on Jan. 4 from Des Moines, where the Bulldogs escaped with a 74-72 victory. The Bulldogs are just 17-34 all-time in games played from Terre Haute, however.

Indiana State Leaders
Ian Scott l 14.5 ppg, 7.2 rpg, .622 FG%
Camp Wagner l 12.6 ppg, 4.8 rpg, .929 FT%
Sterling Young l 10.1 ppg, .422 FG%, .844 FT%
 
Scouting Evansville
The Purple Aces are just 5-15 through 20 games this season and currently sit at the bottom of the league standings with a mark of 1-8 in conference contests. Evansville's lone win in league play came against Indiana State on Jan. 10. UE has dropped its last two games and will go up against Southern Illinois on Jan. 25 before making its trip to Des Moines.

David Ragland, who has spent his entire coaching career at Evansville, has compiled a record of 38-81 in four seasons.

In the all-time series history between Drake and Evansville the Bulldogs have the advantage, 37-28, and have won 14 consecutive games against the Purple Aces. Drake kept that winning streak alive this season narrowly defeating the Purple Aces back on Dec. 21, 66-65, from Evansville. Drake owns a record of 21-10 all-time against Evansville in games played from Des Moines.

Evansville Leaders
Connor Turnbull l 12.4 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 2.6 blk
AJ Casey l 10.8 ppg, 5.4 rpg, .503 FG%
Joshua Hughes l 9.7 ppg, 5.0 rpg, .496 FG%
 
Up Next
The Bulldogs will remain at home and host the Bradley Braves on Jan. 31 as part of Des Moines Hometown Team Weekend and then begin the month of February with a road trip to the Music City, Nashville, Tennessee, to face Belmont on Feb. 3.