Drake-N. Iowa Preview

2/15/2008 6:19 PM

By JEFF MEZYDLO
STATS Writer

Trying to rebound from a loss is something Drake has hardly experienced this season.

The 14th-ranked Bulldogs look to bounce back from their first defeat in three months and possibly clinch the Missouri Valley Conference title when they visit Northern Iowa on Saturday afternoon.

Drake (22-2, 13-1) lost 65-62 at Southern Illinois on Wednesday, ending its 21-game winning streak, which had been the second-longest in the nation behind No. 1 Memphis' 24-0 start. The Bulldogs' only other loss came on Nov. 10 - 72-66 at Saint Mary's, currently ranked 25th.

Despite Wednesday's loss, Drake holds a three-game lead over second-place Illinois State in the conference. The Bulldogs need to win only one of their final four league games to claim a share of their first MVC regular-season crown since 1970-71, and they could win it outright Saturday if Illinois State loses to Indiana State.

"They've worked for everything they've gotten. So now that they start having success, they just want more," Drake coach Keno Davis said.

Davis, though, surely would like to see his team improve on the defensive end as the regular season winds down. The Bulldogs have given up at least 65 points in four straight games - they were allowing an average of 58.5 before that stretch - and have allowed the opposition to shoot at least 50 percent in each of those contests.

The only team in the conference allowing fewer points per game than Drake is Northern Iowa (15-10, 7-7), which gives up an average of 59.9.

The Panthers, who have won four in a row at home, are the only team to hold the Bulldogs below 60 points in conference play, though they lost 58-54 at Drake on Jan. 26.

Bulldogs senior Klayton Korver matched a career high with 23 points in that matchup, but has averaged just 6.2 points in five games since.

Drake leading scorer Josh Young had 17 points on Wednesday, and the sophomore guard is averaging 16.0 for the season.

Northern Iowa won 77-75 in overtime against Wichita State on Wednesday to avoid a third straight loss.

Adam Viet hit a 3-pointer with 11 seconds left in the extra period for the Panthers. Adam Koch had 16 points, while Eric Coleman added 14 and 11 rebounds as Northern Iowa improved to 5-3 since losing four straight conference games.

"It's not necessarily a season-saver," said Coleman, who is averaging 11.0 points and 7.5 rebounds in seven games versus Drake. "Anytime we win, it allows us to take control of where we will place for the conference tournament and it will help us avoid the play-in game."

Guard Jared Josten, who had 15 points versus Wichita State, scored 12 against Drake last month and was the only Panthers player in double figures against the Bulldogs.

Drake has won three in a row in the series, including a 67-59 victory on Feb. 8, 2007 to snap a 12-game losing streak at Northern Iowa.