Wichita, KS.: Three words: This. Is. March.
In a thrilling first-round matchup, the No. 11 seed Drake Bulldogs upset the No. 6 seed Missouri Tigers with a 67-57 victory on Thursday night.
Drake guard Bennett Stirtz delivered an impressive performance with 21 points, being the leading scorer across both teams. His offensive grit was complemented by Tavion Banks, who scored 15 points and nine rebounds, playing a vital role in the Bulldogs’ success.
Missouri won the tip-off but failed to capitalize, missing two free throws after an early foul. This allowed Drake to strike first. Bennett Stirtz put Drake on the board, sinking two free throws to take a 2-0 lead. Both teams displayed aggressive defense, leading to multiple turnovers in the early minutes.
With both teams trading defensive stops and pushing the pace, the early minutes set the stage for a tightly contested battle.
The Bulldogs established a strong defensive presence early on, limiting Missouri to a season-low 23 points in the first half and entering halftime with a 30-23 lead. Drake’s defense continued to stifle the Tigers, extending their lead to as much as 15 points in the second half.
Missouri started the half trailing 30-24 and quickly found themselves in deeper trouble as Drake’s aggressive play expanded the lead. A strong post move by Daniel Abreu and a second-chance layup from Tavion Banks helped the Bulldogs push the lead to 34-25 with 17 minutes remaining.
Drake’s defense remained consistent forcing turnovers and capitalizing on Missouri’s mistakes. A fast-break layup by Banks off a steal from Isaiah Howard extended the Bulldogs’ advantage to 39-28, prompting a timeout from Missouri with 14 minutes remaining.
However, Missouri refused to give up. Caleb Grill converted three free throws after a shooting foul, and Marques Warrick drilled a step-back three-pointer to trim the deficit to 47-39 with just over nine minutes left.
The Tigers found themselves within striking distance after Grill’s clutch three-pointer and a pair of free throws from T.O. Barrett, narrowing the score down to 52-46 with just over six minutes remaining.
Drake had chances to seal the game but struggled at the free-throw line, missing multiple attempts in the closing minutes. Missouri took advantage of their disadvantages, as Anthony Robinson II and Caleb Grill each hit crucial free throws to bring the Tigers within two points at 52-50 with 5:20 remaining.
Despite the late-game pressure, Missouri couldn’t convert their final chances. A missed free throw from Mark Mitchell and a critical turnover on their last possession sealed their fate, allowing Drake to escape with the hard-fought win.
Despite a resilient effort from Missouri, which narrowed the deficit to one point with 4:28 remaining, Drake maintained composure. The Bulldogs’ strategic control and lock-down defense proved decisive in the closing minutes, securing their first NCAA Tournament victory since 1971.
Missouri’s season finished with a 22-12 record under head coach Dennis Gates. The Tigers faced challenges against Drake’s disciplined defense and struggled to find offensive rhythm throughout the game.
With this victory, Drake advances to Round 32, where they are set to take on Texas Tech.
Photo Credits via Nick Tre. Smith – Imagn Images
