Photo: Drake University
(Des Moines, IA) -- The Drake University Men's Basketball team will learn Sunday who they'll play in the first round of the NCAA Men's Basketball tourney. The Bulldogs captured an automatic bid to the tourney Sunday after beating No. 1 seed Bradley 77-51 to win the Missouri Valley Conference tourney in St. Louis.
The Bulldogs are headed to the NCAA tourney for the second time in three years.
"I'm really proud of our guys," head coach Darian DeVries said after the game. "We had unbelievable fight today and played together. It's an incredible moment."
Sophomore forward Tucker DeVries, who was the recipient of the Doug Elgin Award as the outstanding player of the tournament, led Drake with 22 points including 13 in the second half.
DeVries made three three-point baskets to move up to No. 3 on the school single-season three-point basket list at 87. Senior forward Darnell Brodie scored 12 points and hauled in a game-high nine rebounds. Graduate guard Garrett Sturtz contributed 12 points along with two rebounds.
Graduate guard Roman Penn, also selected to the all-tournament team, added nine points along with a game-high six assists.
Senior guard Sardaar Calhoun collected eight points. Drake's bench tallied 16 points improving its record to 15-0 against MVC teams when it scores at least 10 points .
MVC ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM: Cooper Neese, Indiana State; Rienk Mast, Bradley; JaShon Henry, Bradley; Roman Penn, Drake.
Doug Elgin Award for Most Outstanding Player — Tucker DeVries, Drake
Photo: Drake University