Southern Illinois uses late surge to top Drake 78-67
DES MOINES, Iowa -- Aaron Cook scored 18 points, including five in a game-ending 11-0 run, and Southern Illinois rallied for a 78-67 victory over Drake on Tuesday night.
Reed Timmer's layup with 4:19 left to play pulled Drake into a 67-all tie, but Armon Fletcher hit a pair of free throws with 3:09 left and Cook had back-to-back layups to carry the Salukis (15-9, 7-4 Missouri Valley Conference) to their fourth straight win.
Tyler Smithpeters finished with 12 points and eight rebounds for Southern Illinois, which outrebounded the Bulldogs 37-25. Kavion Pippen added 14 points and Fletcher scored 11 as the Salukis shot 51 percent from the floor in a game that saw 16 lead changes.
Timmer topped Drake (12-12, 6-5) with 22 points, while Nick McGlynn scored 12 with 10 rebounds for his fifth double-double of the season. Drake lost for just the second time at home this season. The teams split the season series after Drake posted a 70-67 win on New Year's Eve.
Game Information
- Referees:
- Don Daily
- Tom O'Neill
- Owen Shortt
2023-24 Missouri Valley Conference Standings
Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
---|---|---|---|
Indiana State | 17-3 | - | 32-7 |
Drake | 16-4 | 1 | 28-7 |
Bradley | 13-7 | 4 | 23-12 |
Belmont | 12-8 | 5 | 20-13 |
Northern Iowa | 12-8 | 5 | 19-14 |
Southern Illinois | 11-9 | 6 | 19-13 |
Illinois State | 9-11 | 8 | 15-17 |
Murray State | 9-11 | 8 | 12-20 |
Missouri State | 8-12 | 9 | 17-16 |
Evansville | 6-14 | 11 | 17-18 |
UIC | 4-16 | 13 | 12-21 |
Valparaiso | 3-17 | 14 | 7-25 |