ST. LOUIS — Bennett Stirtz, recognized as the Missouri Valley Conference player of the year, showcased an impressive performance with 24 points, propelling Drake to a 57-50 victory over Belmont in a conference tournament semifinal on Saturday.
Alongside his scoring efforts, Stirtz contributed five rebounds and four steals, solidifying his role in leading the Bulldogs (29-3) to achieve a school record for the highest number of wins in a single season. Their win secured them a position in the tournament final, where top-seeded Drake is set to face either the No. 2 seed Bradley or the No. 11 seed Valparaiso. The final match will determine who earns the automatic berth to participate in the NCAA Tournament.
For Belmont, Sam Orme emerged as a notable player, heading the team with 13 points, coupled with six rebounds and two steals.
Despite being down 30-21 at halftime, Stirtz’s pivotal performance in the second half, scoring 16 points, was instrumental in rallying the Bulldogs and steering them to victory.
