Bulldogs wipe away 19-point deficit to tie biggest comeback in program history and win third straight

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Jalen Quinn had 26 points in Drake’s 82-78 victory over Evansville on Wednesday night.

Quinn added six rebounds and five assists for the Bulldogs (12-10, 6-5 Missouri Valley Conference). Andrew Alia scored 19 points and added nine rebounds. Owen Larson had 13 points and went 5 of 13 from the field (3 for 10 from 3-point range).

Leif Moeller finished with 20 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and two steals for the Purple Aces (5-16, 1-9). Bryce Quinet added 16 points for Evansville. AJ Casey finished with 15 points and four assists.

Alia scored eight points in the first half and Drake went into halftime trailing 36-30. Quinn’s 18-point second half helped Drake finish off the four-point victory.

Team Notes
—Drake, winning its third straight game, improved its overall record to 12-10 including a 6-5 mark in the Missouri Valley Conference.
—The three-game winning streak is the longest under first year coach Eric Henderson
—The Bulldogs are 6-6 in home games, capturing their second straight home win.
—Drake tied a school record with its biggest comeback victory -19 points – in program history after trailing 59-40 with 12:57 left in the game.
—Drake rallied from a 19-point deficit to post a 76-72 overtime victory Feb. 5, 2005, in Evansville after erasing a 60-41deficit with 9:16 left in the game.
—There were four lead changes and six ties in the game.
—Drake shot 43.1 percent from the floor (22-51), including 56.5 percent (13-23) in the second half. It marked the third straight game the Bulldogs had shot 50 percent or better in the second half after hitting 55.2 percent (16-29) in the second half against Murray State, and 57.6 percent in the second half (15-26) at Indiana State last Saturday.
—Drake closed out the game making its last four shots in the final 3:10 with a traditional three-point play by Jalen Quinn with 1:40 left giving the Bulldogs a 74-73 lead it never relinquished.
—Drake outrebounded Evansville, 32-28, to improve to 8-2 when outrebounding opponents this season.
—The Bulldogs owned an 18-7 advantage in fast break points.
—Drake improved to 4-9 when trailing at halftime, rallying from a 36-30 halftime deficit.
 
Drake Player Notes
—Senior transfer guard Jalen Quinn enjoyed his 11th 20-plus scoring game of the season, leading Drake with 26 points—18 in the second half.
—The 11, 20-plus scoring games also are the most by a player in the Missouri Valley Conference this season.
—It marked Quinn’s fifth straight 20-plus scoring game. He is averaging 27.2 points during that stretch: 21 at Southern Illinois, 28 at UIC, 34 vs. Murray State, 27 at Indiana State, 26 vs. Evansville.
—Junior Andrew Alia added a career-high 19 points, including 11 in the second half.
—Sophomore transfer guard Owen Larson scored 13 points, including 11 in the second half.
—The trio of Quinn (18), Alia (11) and Larson (11) combined for 40 of Drake’s 52 points in the second half.
—Redshirt sophomore Eli Shetlar chipped in with 11 points including seven in the first half.
—Quinn also led Drake with five assists, while collecting six rebounds.
—Alia also led Drake with a career-tying nine rebounds.
—Alia set career highs in free throws made (10) and free throws attempted (10).
—Quinn made 10 of a career high 13 free throw attempts. It marked the sixth game this season in which he has had 10 or more free throw attempts, including the third time in his last four outings.
—Wilguens Jr. Exacte, who had started in 13 games, missed his eighth consecutive game because of a foot injury.
 
The Series
—Drake, earning its 15th straight victory against Evansville, owns a 38-28 lead in the series including a 22-10 mark against the Purple Aces in games played in Des Moines.
—This marked the second time in series history that Drake rallied from a 19-point deficit to win a game against the Purple Aces after coming from behind to earn a 76-72 overtime victory.

Next Up

A chance to square the season series with Bradley, which routed the Bulldogs 93-66 in Peoria on Jan. 7. The Braves visit the Knapp Center on Saturday for a 5 p.m. game.