Drake men’s basketball begins season 10-0 for just the second time in its 118-year history

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For just the second time in its 118-year history, the Drake men’s basketball team has reached mid-December undefeated.

The Bulldogs won their 10th consecutive game yesterday with a 73-70 victory over Kansas State in overtime at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City. Drake was led by guard Mitch Mascari, who finished the game with 25 points and went 8-for-10 from three-point range.

Drake is one of four undefeated Division I teams (Florida, Oklahoma and Tennessee are the others). The Bulldogs improved to 5-0 in games away from home (4-0 neutral site, 1-0 road).

With much of the attention going to fellow in-state schools, Drake often gets overlooked through no fault of its own. But with impressive wins in non-conference games against Miami (Fla.), Vanderbilt and now Kansas State, the Bulldogs are beginning to make a case for a national ranking heading into the third month of the season.

When was the last time the Drake men’s basketball team started its season 10-0?

During a season stricken with restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Drake won a school-record 18 consecutive games to start the 2020-21 season.

Drake cracked the AP top 25 during this stretch before losing its first game of the season to Valparaiso. The Bulldogs finished the regular season with 24 wins, setting a school record with 15 Missouri Valley Conference wins and making the NCAA men’s basketball tournament for the first time in 13 years.

The Bulldogs season ended when they lost in the first round to USC, but the team shed the weight of 50 years of history with a First Four win over Wichita State, the program’s first March Madness success since 1971.

Missouri native Bennett Stirtz wins it for Drake in overtime

In Drake’s most recent game, junior guard Bennett Stirtz secured the game for the Bulldogs by making a 3-pointer with 4 seconds left in overtime.

Stirtz, a native of Liberty, Missouri, and a lifelong K-State fan, recorded 22 points, four assists, and three steals during the contest.

“I used to be a…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/drake-men-basketball-begins-season-170723987.html

Author : The Des Moines Register

Publish date : 2024-12-18 17:07:00

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