ST. LOUIS — Bennett Stirtz delivered an impressive performance with 24 points while Tavion Banks contributed 13, aiding the top-seeded Drake in their victory over the No. 2-seed Bradley with a score of 63-48 on Sunday. This win marks their third consecutive title in Arch Madness.
With this triumph, the Bulldogs (30-3) secured another NCAA Tournament berth—their eighth appearance in total and their fourth within the last five years. Additionally, Drake clinched the Missouri Valley Conference regular-season championship, a feat they last achieved in 2019.
Bradley initially took the lead when Demarion Burch hit a 3-pointer, making the score 27-24 with just four minutes left in the first half. However, they struggled offensively thereafter, not managing to score until there were 15 minutes and 20 seconds left on the clock in the second half. Drake surged ahead with a 7-0 run to conclude the first half, leading to a score of 31-27, and further expanded their advantage by adding the first six points at the onset of the second half.
At the seven-minute mark of the second half, the Bulldogs were up 46-41. Bradley’s offensive struggles resurfaced as Drake went on a decisive 15-2 run, highlighted by a dunk and a 3-pointer from Stirtz, further solidifying their lead.
Bradley (26-8) went through a prolonged dry spell, going nearly five and a half minutes without a successful field goal. Darius Hannah finally ended the drought with a basket in the paint, adjusting the score to 61-47. Unfortunately for Bradley, Hannah’s basket was the only one out of their last seven attempts over the final seven minutes and seventeen seconds of play.
Hannah stood out for Bradley with 19 points, shooting efficiently at a 7-of-11 pace. Despite a strong first-half shooting percentage of 52%, Bradley’s performance diminished in the second half, dropping to 28%, ending with an overall 42% field goal percentage for the game.
Stirtz was particularly effective for Drake, sinking 5 out of 7 3-point attempts and shooting 7 for 13 overall. Banks was dominant on the boards, recording a game-high nine rebounds, while Drake as a team shot 46% from the field.
