Drake used a late 10-0 run to break the game open as the Bulldogs beat UNI 66-52 in front of a large Knapp Center crowd.
That’s Drake coach Ben McCollum. Drake led 28-24 and closed the opening half on an 8-0 run that McCollum said was triggered by better rebounding.
Drake was 10-of-16 from three point range and several came at the end of the shoot clock as the Bulldogs controlled the tempo.
The Bulldogs improve to 9-2 in the Missouri Valley and are 19-2 overall.
The Panthers shot only 41 percent in the opening half and coach Ben Jacobson says several defensive breakdowns were costly.
Jacobson gave credit to Drake’s defense.
Bennett Stirtz led Drake with 20 points. Tytan Anderson led UNI with 16 and says the game was played at Drake’s pace.
The Panthers were without starting guard Leon Bond III who was out with what Jacobson says is a strained patellar tendon. His availability for the remainder of the season is uncertain.
Anderson says with Bond injured the Panthers will need to adjust.