The Basics
Drake men's basketball is in its closing stretch of the regular season with just five games remaining. This week the Bulldogs are back in action with two games first hosting the UIC Flames on Thursday, Feb. 12 and then hitting the road for quick trip to Cedar Falls to take on in-state rival UNI on Sunday, Feb. 15.
Bulldogs by the Numbers
The Bulldogs will look to get their first win in the month of February and shake off a current four-game losing streak, the programs longest since the 2016-17. Drake currently sits eighth in the Missouri Valley Conference standings with a league record of 6-9. Overall, the Bulldogs carry a record of 12-14.
Jalen Quinn, who leads the MVC in scoring at 20.0 ppg, became the first Drake player to record four 30-plus scoring games in the same season since Tucker DeVries who also achieved the feat in four games during the 2023-24 campaign. In Drake's last game against Valparaiso the senior poured in 33 points, just one point shy of his career high which he set earlier this season against Murray State. Quinn also surpassed 1,000 points for his career and achieved 100 career steals with two swipes in the game against Valpo.
Drake has lost six home games by five points or less this season including three setbacks by two points: Robert Morris (81-79 overtime), SIUE (61-59) and Belmont (78-76). The five-point losses were to current Summit League leader North Dakota State (99-94), UAB (74-69), and Valparaiso (81-76). The three home losses by two points or less all featured winning baskets by the opponent with less than a minute remaining in the game.
Drake Leaders
Jalen Quinn l 20.0 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 3.3 apg
Jaehshon Thomas l 10.2 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 1.8 apg
Okku Federiko l 10.1 ppg, 5.2 rpg, .549 FG%
Scouting UIC
The Flames are two spots higher than the Bulldogs in the current MVC standings and are tied for fourth with three others. After winning eight-straight games, UIC has dropped its last two heading into its contest with Drake and now has a league record of 8-6. Overall, the Flames are one game above .500 at 13-12.
UIC's head coach, Rob Ehsan, is in his second season leading the program and has gone 30-26 in his brief tenure from the Windy City. Ehsan is in his fourth season overall as a head coach and has a career record of 106-83.
In the all-time series against UIC, Drake has the lead with a mark of 11-4. In the first meeting of the season between the Bulldogs and Flames, it was UIC who came away with the victory in Chicago, 74-67, on Jan. 17. The Bulldogs are 7-3 in the last 10 meetings against the Flames, but UIC has had Drake's number more recently taking two of the last three matchups. In games played from Des Moines, Drake is 7-1 all-time against UIC
UIC Leaders
Ahmad Henderson II l 12.8 ppg, 2.3 apg, .866 FT%
Andy Johnson l 11.7 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 1.9 apg
Elijah Crawford l 11.7 ppg, 3.7 apg, 2.3 rpg
Scouting UNI
The Panthers have had their ups and downs throughout the season but are currently 16-9 on the season and are also 8-6 in league play. UNI is currently riding a three-game winning streak on takes on league leader Belmont before the Bulldogs come to town. UNI boasts one of the toughest defenses in the country as it leads the nation in scoring defense at 60.0 ppg.
Ben Jacobson, in his 20th season as the head coach of the Panthers, has spent his entire career at UNI and owns a record of 390-255.
Sunday marks the 89th all-time meeting between the Bulldogs and Panthers. UNI leads the in-state rivalry, 52-36. Drake swept the season series last year winning both games over the Panthers and has gone 8-2 in its last 10 meetings with UNI. The Bulldogs, however, are just 10-30 all-time in games played from Cedar Falls.
UNI Leaders
Trey Campbell l 13.5 ppg, 3.8 apg, 3.4 rpg
Leon Bond III l 11.6 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 1.5 apg
Will Hornseth l 10.2 ppg, 4.8 rpg, .611 FG%
Up Next
Drake will go up against Southern Illinois from the Knapp Center on Wednesday, Feb. 18. Tip-off against the Salukis is slated for 6:30 p.m. CT.
