Drake withstood a furious second half rally by top-seeded Indiana State to capture its second straight State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament title 84-80, Sunday afternoon at the Enterprise Center.
No. 2 seed Drake, playing in its fourth straight MVC Tournament championship game under head coach Darian DeVries, advances to its seventh NCAA Tournament appearance with the championship. The Bulldogs are now 28-6 on the season.
Indiana State, the MVC’s regular-season champion and tournament top seed, fell to 28-6 on the season. The Sycamores will await their NCAA Tournament future when the announcement comes next Sunday, March 17.
Tucker DeVries, the two-time MVC Player of the Year, scored 27 points and added seven rebounds in the winning effort. He walked away with MVC Tournament Most Outstanding Player honors for the second consecutive year.
DeVries had plenty of support. Darrell Brodie contributed 17 points and a team-high eight rebounds while Atin Wright added 17 points, as well.
Five Sycamores scored in double figures, paced by Jayson Kent’s 22 points and nine rebounds. Isaiah Swope and Robbie Avila added 19 and 15, respectively.
Drake utilized red hot shooting to break up a close game in the first half, using a 22-4 run to go up by as many as 14 in the first half. The run was aided by 15 points and three consecutive three- pointers by Wright.
Facing a 67-49 deficit nine minutes into the second half, Indiana State battled back behind the inside play of Kent and Avila and Swope’s outside shooting. The Sycamores outscored Drake 24-5 over the next five minutes to take their first lead of the game since the opening minutes.
With the score tied 76-76, baskets by DeVries and Conor Enright in the last two minutes gave Drake an 81-76 cushion that they never relinquished. The margin increased to seven points with 15 seconds off before Indiana State’s Julian Larry closed the scoring with a jumper at the buzzer.
Drake head coach Darian DeVries earned his 150th victory during a six-year run with the program. He has also guided the Bulldogs to four straight MVC Tournament championship games and has led Drake to a 13-4 record in MVC Tournament play.
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Drake resiliently withstood a fierce second-half surge from top-seeded Indiana State, clinching their second consecutive State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament title with an 84-80 victory on Sunday afternoon at the Enterprise Center.
As the No. 2 seed, Drake, under the leadership of head coach Darian DeVries, secured its seventh NCAA Tournament appearance by improving to a 28-6 season record. This marked the Bulldogs’ fourth consecutive MVC Tournament championship game appearance.
Despite Indiana State’s status as the regular-season MVC champion and tournament top seed, they fell to a 28-6 season record. The Sycamores will eagerly await their NCAA Tournament fate following the announcement on Sunday, March 17.
Tucker DeVries, the two-time MVC Player of the Year, played a pivotal role in Drake’s victory, notching 27 points and seven rebounds, and earning MVC Tournament Most Outstanding Player honors for the second straight year. DeVries received ample support from Darrell Brodie, who contributed 17 points and eight rebounds, and Atin Wright, who also scored 17 points.
Five Sycamores posted double-figure scores, led by Jayson Kent’s 22 points and nine rebounds, with Isaiah Swope and Robbie Avila adding 19 and 15 points, respectively.
Drake surged ahead in the first half with scorching shooting, fueled by a 22-4 run that saw them lead by as many as 14 points. Wright’s 15 points, including three consecutive three-pointers, were instrumental in this run.
Despite trailing by 18 points early in the second half, Indiana State mounted a remarkable comeback, spurred by Kent, Avila, and Swope. They outscored Drake 24-5 over a five-minute stretch to seize their first lead since the game’s outset.
With the score knotted at 76-76, crucial baskets from DeVries and Conor Enright in the final two minutes propelled Drake to an 81-76 advantage, which they maintained until the final buzzer. Coach Darian DeVries not only secured his 150th victory during his tenure but also boasts an impressive record of four consecutive MVC Tournament championship game appearances and a 13-4 record in MVC Tournament play.
