The 35th meeting between Drake and Northern Iowa is Saturday night in the Knapp Center. With four players out after being declared academically ineligible, the Bulldogs stunned Illinois State 77-68 on Wednesday night. Senior Aaron Thomas had a career-high 24-points and said it was a confidence boost for the team.Drake coach Kurt Kanaskie expects an emotional game against Northern Iowa.While Drake is down to seven players, U-N-I coach Sam Weaver has tried to shorten his rotation to find some chemistry.U-N-I is 0-6 in the Missouri Valley and 3-14 overall and Weaver says the Panthers have to stay together and keep looking ahead.Number 23 Iowa State takes a 2-2 Big-12 mark on the road to Nebraska. While point guard Jamaal Tinsley has garnered most of the national attention, coach Larry Eustachy says off guard Kantrail Horton remains one of the keys to the Cyclones’ success.Eustachy says Horton’s versatility is a major plus.
