DES MOINES — Darnell Brodie’s best game of the season and a timely steal by Tucker DeVries in the final minute helped the Drake University men’s basketball team open Missouri Valley Conference play with a 73-66 victory over Valparaiso at the Knapp Center on Thursday night, breaking a three-game losing streak.
It was the earliest Drake has ever played a Valley game and the Bulldogs won it with contributions up and down the lineup along with some solid defense at key stretches.
Drake (4-3) never trailed after scoring nine straight points to open a 17-12 lead, but the Bulldogs had to fight off Valpo (3-5) at every turn the rest of the game.
Brodie led the way with 14 points on 6-for-7 shooting, his first game in double figures since scoring 21 at Bradley last Feb. 26. He also grabbed six rebounds.
DeVries and D.J. Wilkins each scored 11 points and both made three 3-pointers, the third time this season each has knocked down three in a game. Wilkins regained his touch after making only three 3-pointers in the Bulldogs’ three previous games, all losses at tournament in Florida.
Tremell Murphy added 10 points, including a big 3-pointer late in the game, while ShanQuan Hemphill scored eight and grabbed a team-best seven rebounds. Hemphill had one of the game’s highlight plays, going 1-on-4 for a two-handed dunk that gave Drake a 59-51 lead. Garrett Sturtz also scored eight points and collected six rebounds.
The Bulldogs, winning at home for the seventh straight time, got a big lift from its bench, owning a 26-13 edge in points from the reserves. Two of those players off the bench helped the Bulldogs wipe out Valparaiso’s early lead.
Ayo Akinwole buried a 3 and DeVries followed with two more baskets from deep, giving the Bulldogs that 17-12 lead. A Wilkins 3 stretched the lead to 32-22 and Drake took a 40-32 lead into halftime. The Bulldogs twice led by 12 in the second half before Valpo clawed back and forced the Bulldogs to earn it down the stretch.
Drake was trying to protect a 65-57 lead and the shot clock was about to expire when Murphy hit a long 3 from the right wing. He finished 4-for-5 from the field in reaching double figures for the sixth time this season, the most on the team.
The Bulldogs kept Valparaiso in it by missing the front end of two 1-and-1 free throw opportunities as the Beacons sliced the lead to 68-64. They had the ball at their end of the court with a chance to make it a one-possession game when DeVries leaped to steal the ball near the sideline with 32 seconds left.
That led to a parade to the free throw line and the Bulldogs capitalized, Sturtz sinking three and DeVries making a pair to wrap it up.
Ben Kirkke led Valparaiso with 20 points but was limited to five in the second half. The Beacons made five of their first six shots, then went 22-of-50 the rest of the way and finished with a season-low four 3-pointers. They had made 23 in their two previous games.
Drake will be back in the Knapp Center to play St. Thomas on Sunday, Dec. 5 at 2 p.m. The Bulldogs won’t return to MVC action until Jan. 2 at Missouri State.
