Quinn tallies first career double-double, but Drake suffers another home loss by five points or fewer.

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Damien Mayo Jr. had 22 points in Southern Illinois’ 66-61 win over Drake on Wednesday to hand the Bulldogs their seventh-straight defeat.

Mayo went 8 of 10 from the field (5 for 6 from 3-point range) for the Salukis (13-15, 7-10 Missouri Valley Conference). Quel’Ron House scored 15 points while shooting 3 for 14 (2 for 8 from 3-point range) and 7 of 12 from the free-throw line, and added six rebounds and five assists. Drew Steffe went 5 of 10 from the field (1 for 3 from 3-point range) to finish with 11 points.

Jalen Quinn led the Bulldogs (12-17, 6-12) in scoring, finishing with 23 points, 10 rebounds and two steals. Drake also got seven points from Eli Shetlar. Jaehshon.

Mayo scored 12 points in the first half and Southern Illinois went into halftime trailing 36-31. Southern Illinois pulled off the victory after a 10-0 second-half run erased a four-point deficit and gave them the lead at 50-44 with 11:54 remaining in the half. House scored 12 second-half points.

Drake Team Notes
—Drake, suffering its seventh straight loss, slipped to 12-17 overall including a 6-12 mark in the Missouri Valley Conference.
—The Bulldogs’ home record fell to 6-10, including a 3-6 mark in MVC games.
—This marked Drake’s seventh loss at home by five points or fewer.
—The seven-game losing skid is the longest at the school since the 2016-17 campaign when the Bulldogs lost eight straight games (Nov. 24-Dec. 19)
—Drake collected a season high eight blocked shots
—Drake shot 40 percent (24-60) from the floor, including 33.3 percent (10-30) in the second half.
—After shooting 42.9 percent (6-14) from three-point range in the first half, Drake hit 9.1 percent beyond the three-point arc (1-11) in the second half, missing its first nine three-point shots. Andrew Alia broke the drought making a trey with 4:23 left in the game.
—Drake hit 46.2 percent from the free throw line (6-13) missing the front end of two one-and-one bonus situations in the last 4:53 of the game.
—Southern Illinois used a 10-0 run to rally from a 44-40 deficit after Drake center Isaiah Carr went to the bench with 14:03 left after picking up his fourth foul.
—Drake made eighth straight shots during a 4 minute 57 second stretch (11:30 to 6:33) to turn a 12-11 advantage into a 31-16 cushion following a layup by Andrew Ali with 6:33 left in the first half. Then the Bulldogs missed their next seven shots, allowing Southern Illinois to go on 11-0 run to pull within 31-29. Drake closed out the half with 5-2 run.
 
Drake Player Notes
—Senior transfer guard Jalen Quinn posted his first career double-double with 23 points, including 14 in the first half, along with a career-high 10 rebounds.
—Quinn, who leads the MVC in scoring (19.8 avg.), enjoyed his 16th 20-plus scoring game. It was his 10th 20-plus scoring game in his last 12 outings.
— Quinn made three three-point baskets, enjoying his fourth game this season making three or more three-point baskets.
—Quinn moved into No. 12 on the Drake single-season scoring list with 577 points, passing Rayvonte Rice (2011-12, 555).
 —Redshirt sophomore Eli Shetlar added seven points.
—Senior Isaiah Carr tied a season high with five blocked shots— his sixth game this season collecting three or more blocked shots.
—Carr added six points and six rebounds, while tying his career high with two assists.
—Senior guard Jaehshon Thomas scored seven points – his most in the last five games.
—Thomas made his first three-point basket over the last five games while ending an 0-9 shooting slump beyond the arc.
—Wilguens Jr. Exacte, who had started in 13 games, missed his 15th consecutive game because of a foot injury.
 
The Series
—Drake had a seven-game winning streak against Southern Illinois snapped and trails in the all-time series, 61-49, including a 28-25 mark in games played in Des Moines.
—This was the Salukis first win in Des Moines since Feb. 1, 2020, when they claimed a 79-72 win.

Up Next

Drake is now down to its final two regular-season games. The Bulldogs play at Valparaiso on Wednesday, Feb. 25 at 7 p.m. and host Northern Iowa in a 2 p.m. game on Sunday, March 1. Then it’s on to the MVC Tournament in St. Louis, which Drake has won each of the last three years.