vlog

Skip to content
NOWCAST vlog News at 10pm Weeknights
Watch on Demand
Advertisement

Drake basketball: Bulldogs hold on after blowing big lead and beat Missouri 67-57 in March Madness opener

Drake basketball: Bulldogs hold on after blowing big lead and beat Missouri 67-57 in March Madness opener
Drake makes history in Wichita. It's *** big night. For the first time in more than 50 years, the Drake men's basketball team is on to the 2nd round of the NCAA tournament after beating Missouri. Good evening. Thanks for staying up late with us. Yeah, I think *** lot of Drake fans are just still riding that adrenaline. We have team coverage of all the March Madness. We start though with Shannon Earhart in Wichita for more on Drake's big win, Shannon. Ben Stacy, it was *** wild game here. Drake did pull the upset. They did what every Drake fan knew they could do, get it done, and they advanced to the second round for the first time since 1971. Drake was able to get it done on the defensive end by getting stops and then controlling the pace the entire game. They slowed down *** Mizzou team who Scoring 84 points *** game to just 23 points at half. Drake led by 7 points at halftime as well. They were able to get those stops, and they were up 15 points in the second half, but Mizzou did make it *** one point game with 4:30 left by going 23 of 26 from the free throw line. The Bulldogs would put. Together *** 6-0 run and finally make their free throws down the stretch. They went 12 of 24, by the way, 50% from the line, not very good, but they were able to win 67-57. Drake finished the game shooting 53% with 23 points off turnovers and not rebounded Mizzou with 31-26. Coach Mack told us how they were able to hold off Mizzou. I mean we got good players, you know, I think we got good players and. They expect to win and they expected to win that game and they held in there defensively when the run was going. I felt like the game, I felt like the game was going so slow. I mean, we got that lead early in the second half and I look up, it was like the 16 to 12 minute. I'm like it's been like 20 minutes and we played 4 minutes. So for it to finally go off and for everything we've done in the game to come out with *** W, it was nice. I'm not going to let it set in because it's like just another game. You got, you got to keep it. You got to keep the composure. You got to just have that same mindset with every single game. Drake's 31 victories on the season is tied for most in the country with Duke and Houston. That is pretty good company, *** very impressive win from Drake over Mizzou, again, *** 10 point win, 67 to 57, the final. Now Drake will get the winner of UNC Wilmington in Texas. who are playing right now. Texas Tech was up 4 points last time that I checked my photographer saying 5 points now. We'll have more on that game later. plus hear from more of the players after this historic win from Drake. I'm live from Wichita, vlog, Iowa sports leader.
Advertisement
Drake basketball: Bulldogs hold on after blowing big lead and beat Missouri 67-57 in March Madness opener
Bennett Stirtz scored 21 points and No. 11 seed Drake, a team relying heavily on Division II transfers, held on after blowing most of a 15-point lead to beat sixth-seeded Missouri 67-57 on Thursday night in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.Tavion Banks added 15 points and nine rebounds for the Bulldogs (31-3), who along with first-year coach Ben McCollum advanced to a second-round matchup with third-seeded Texas Tech on Saturday.Caleb Grill had 14 points for Missouri (22-12). Tamar Bates had 10 before fouling out.As expected, the game was a stylistic clash: Drake and its nation-leading scoring defense trying to force a rock fight, and Missouri with its top-10 scoring offense trying to push the tempo whenever it had the chance.There were very few until the second half.The Bulldogs made every shot a chore, and at the other end, they patiently probed for openings. Usually it was Stirtz — one of the Northwest Missouri State quartet who followed McCollum to Drake — who was knocking down a 3 or driving to the rim.The Missouri Valley champs forged a 30-23 halftime lead. And it appeared as if the small school from Des Moines — with an enrollment of 4,774 — would be able to put the game away, extending the advantage to 43-28 with 12:40 to go.That's when Missouri began to press in an attempt to push the pace, and the Bulldogs struggled to deal with it. At one point, the Tigers ripped off 10 consecutive points, closing within 52-51 on Mark Mitchell's free throw with 4:28 remaining.Drake answered with six consecutive points to restore its cushion, and the Tigers were unable to finish their comeback.TakeawaysDrake went 12 of 24 from the foul line but survived to snap a four-game losing streak in first-round NCAA Tournament games.Missouri had lost four of its last five entering the tournament, and the Tigers sure looked like a slumping team in the first half. The result was a deficit that they were simply unable to overcome.Up nextThe Bulldogs will play Saturday for a spot in their first Sweet 16 since 1971.» Subscribe to vlog's YouTube page» Download the free vlog app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google PlayPHNjcmlwdCB0eXBlPSJ0ZXh0L2phdmFzY3JpcHQiPiFmdW5jdGlvbigpeyJ1c2Ugc3RyaWN0Ijt3aW5kb3cuYWRkRXZlbnRMaXN0ZW5lcigibWVzc2FnZSIsKGZ1bmN0aW9uKGUpe2lmKHZvaWQgMCE9PWUuZGF0YVsiZGF0YXdyYXBwZXItaGVpZ2h0Il0pe3ZhciB0PWRvY3VtZW50LnF1ZXJ5U2VsZWN0b3JBbGwoImlmcmFtZSIpO2Zvcih2YXIgYSBpbiBlLmRhdGFbImRhdGF3cmFwcGVyLWhlaWdodCJdKWZvcih2YXIgcj0wO3I8dC5sZW5ndGg7cisrKXtpZih0W3JdLmNvbnRlbnRXaW5kb3c9PT1lLnNvdXJjZSl0W3JdLnN0eWxlLmhlaWdodD1lLmRhdGFbImRhdGF3cmFwcGVyLWhlaWdodCJdW2FdKyJweCJ9fX0pKX0oKTs8L3NjcmlwdD4=

Bennett Stirtz scored 21 points and No. 11 seed Drake, a team relying heavily on Division II transfers, held on after blowing most of a 15-point lead to beat sixth-seeded Missouri 67-57 on Thursday night in the first round of the NCAA Tournament.

Tavion Banks added 15 points and nine rebounds for the Bulldogs (31-3), who along with first-year coach Ben McCollum advanced to a second-round matchup with third-seeded Texas Tech on Saturday.

Advertisement
WICHITA, KANSAS - MARCH 20: Tavion Banks #6 of the Drake Bulldogs shoots a layup during the second half in the first round of the NCAA Men&apos&#x3B;s Basketball Tournament against the Missouri Tigers at INTRUST Arena on March 20, 2025 in Wichita, Kansas.  (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
Jamie Squire
Tavion Banks #6 of the Drake Bulldogs shoots a layup during the second half in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament against the Missouri Tigers at INTRUST Arena on March 20, 2025 in Wichita, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Caleb Grill had 14 points for Missouri (22-12). Tamar Bates had 10 before fouling out.

As expected, the game was a stylistic clash: Drake and its nation-leading scoring defense trying to force a rock fight, and Missouri with its top-10 scoring offense trying to push the tempo whenever it had the chance.

There were very few until the second half.

WICHITA, KANSAS - MARCH 20: Bennett Stirtz #14 of the Drake Bulldogs drives the ball against Missouri Tigers during the first round of the 2025 NCAA Men&apos&#x3B;s Basketball Tournament held at INTRUST Arena on March 20, 2025 in Wichita, Kansas. (Photo by Andy Hancock/NCAA Photos/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
Andy Hancock/NCAA Photos
Bennett Stirtz #14 of the Drake Bulldogs drives the ball against Missouri Tigers during the first round of the 2025 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament held at INTRUST Arena on March 20, 2025 in Wichita, Kansas. (Photo by Andy Hancock/NCAA Photos/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
WICHITA, KANSAS - MARCH 20: Bennett Stirtz #14 of the Drake Bulldogs shoots a layup against Missouri Tigers during the first round of the 2025 NCAA Men&apos&#x3B;s Basketball Tournament held at INTRUST Arena on March 20, 2025 in Wichita, Kansas. (Photo by Andy Hancock/NCAA Photos/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
Andy Hancock/NCAA Photos
Bennett Stirtz #14 of the Drake Bulldogs shoots a layup against Missouri Tigers during the first round of the 2025 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament held at INTRUST Arena on March 20, 2025 in Wichita, Kansas. (Photo by Andy Hancock/NCAA Photos/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)

The Bulldogs made every shot a chore, and at the other end, they patiently probed for openings. Usually it was Stirtz — one of the Northwest Missouri State quartet who followed McCollum to Drake — who was knocking down a 3 or driving to the rim.

This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

The Missouri Valley champs forged a 30-23 halftime lead. And it appeared as if the small school from Des Moines — with an enrollment of 4,774 — would be able to put the game away, extending the advantage to 43-28 with 12:40 to go.

WICHITA, KANSAS - MARCH 20: Bennett Stirtz #14 of the Drake Bulldogs shoots a layup against Missouri Tigers during the first round of the 2025 NCAA Men&apos&#x3B;s Basketball Tournament held at INTRUST Arena on March 20, 2025 in Wichita, Kansas. (Photo by Andy Hancock/NCAA Photos/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
Andy Hancock/NCAA Photos
Bennett Stirtz #14 of the Drake Bulldogs shoots a layup against Missouri Tigers during the first round of the 2025 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament held at INTRUST Arena on March 20, 2025 in Wichita, Kansas. (Photo by Andy Hancock/NCAA Photos/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)

That's when Missouri began to press in an attempt to push the pace, and the Bulldogs struggled to deal with it. At one point, the Tigers ripped off 10 consecutive points, closing within 52-51 on Mark Mitchell's free throw with 4:28 remaining.

This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

Drake answered with six consecutive points to restore its cushion, and the Tigers were unable to finish their comeback.

WICHITA, KANSAS - MARCH 20: A Drake Bulldogs fan holds up a sign during the first round of the 2025 NCAA Men&apos&#x3B;s Basketball Tournament held at INTRUST Arena on March 20, 2025 in Wichita, Kansas. (Photo by Evert Nelson/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
Evert Nelson
A Drake Bulldogs fan holds up a sign during the first round of the 2025 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament held at INTRUST Arena on March 20, 2025 in Wichita, Kansas. (Photo by Evert Nelson/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)

Takeaways

Drake went 12 of 24 from the foul line but survived to snap a four-game losing streak in first-round NCAA Tournament games.

Missouri had lost four of its last five entering the tournament, and the Tigers sure looked like a slumping team in the first half. The result was a deficit that they were simply unable to overcome.

WICHITA, KANSAS - MARCH 20: head coach Ben McCollum of the Drake Bulldogs walks back to the bench during the first round of the 2025 NCAA Men&apos&#x3B;s Basketball Tournament held at INTRUST Arena on March 20, 2025 in Wichita, Kansas. (Photo by Andy Hancock/NCAA Photos/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)
Andy Hancock/NCAA Photos
Head coach Ben McCollum of the Drake Bulldogs walks back to the bench during the first round of the 2025 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament held at INTRUST Arena on March 20, 2025 in Wichita, Kansas. (Photo by Andy Hancock/NCAA Photos/NCAA Photos via Getty Images)

Up next

The Bulldogs will play Saturday for a spot in their first Sweet 16 since 1971.

»

» Download the free vlog app to get updates on the go: |