The Drake Bulldogs connected on 60% from the field in the second half in a 74-65 victory over Iowa State in the Knapp Center. Ben Simons had a game high 24 points, including four of seven from three point range as the Bulldogs turned the tables after suffering a 48 point loss in Ames a year ago.
Simmons on the post game show on KRNT in Des Moines says they did not play well last year, and he says this is the best game they have played this year. He says defense was the key. I.S.U. shot only 37% for the game, and Simons says the Cyclones have a lot of firepower, but he says they hung in on defense.
Iowa State cut a ten point deficit to three in the waning moments but the Bulldogs scored the final six points of the contest to improve to 2-0.
Drake coach Mark Phelps on his post game show on KRNT says the team played with poise and grit and defended well. Rayvonte Rice added 18 points for Drake.
Iowa State coach Fred Hoiberg says the Cyclones got what they deserved as they came out flat and expected to walk in and get a win. Hoiberg says he sensed that they were going to be flat as he says they weren’t practicing like he wanted the last couple of days.
Hoiberg says it should be a wake up call for his team. “Hopefully we’ve got their attention now…I don’t think we are as good as we think we are as a group,” Hoiberg says. He says they will have to come back and prepare for the game Sunday.
Hoiberg says the Cyclones did not play well enough on the defensive end to get the win. He says he knew they would be ready after what happened last year and he says Drake was prepared and his team wasn’t
Royce White led the Cyclones with 21 points and 14 rebounds as they fall to 1-1.