Dream Dashing Loss

Bulldogs Fall to Miami

(Des Moines, IA) – Drake played spectacular defense but were spotty on offense and suffered a narrow dream dashing loss to Miami. The Bulldogs gave the Atlantic Coast Conference co-champions all they could handle, but in the end, shooting woes cost Drake a trip to NCAA Tournament’s second round.

While 63-56 was the final score, the game was much closer. Drake led by nine points with 5:40 to go, but a Hurricane-like flurry on both ends of the floor sparked Miami to a 16-1 finish and the victory.

During a game where Missouri Valley Conference player of the year Tucker DeVries was held to three points, and ACC player of the year Isaiah Wong was held to five, there were multiple players producing for both squads.

Drake’s Darnell Brodie was spectacular scoring 20 points and grabbing nine rebounds. The Hurricanes were led by Nijel Pack’s 21.

Drake’s season ends with a record of 26-7 and ends the careers of a trio of legacy builders Roman Penn, D.J. Wilkins and Garrett Sturtz. Their names are scribbled all over the Bulldog record books and were part of building Drake into a Valley power.

During Darian DeVries’ five-year career in Des Moines the Bulldogs have won twenty games each season and at least 25 in each of the last three. Penn’s career saw him become the program’s all-time leader in assists (618). Wilkins is the Bulldogs’ all-time leader in three-pointers (307) and Sturtz is the program leader in rebounds (917).

What’s Next? 

Penn was understandably nostalgic after game’s end.

“Coach has built a great program here at Drake,” said Penn. “Us coming here, we just kind of wanted to lay the blueprint down for future Bulldogs hopefully and just hope to continue the tradition and keep on winning and playing hard. I’m just grateful, blessed to be a part of this program. The ceiling is super high for these guys, and with Coach in the hands of the program, the sky’s the limit.”

It was a dream dashing loss ending a successful season that saw Drake win 26 games, the Arch Madness Tournament title, make an NCAA Tournament appearance and record the program’s second most single season victories total.

As they head to the offseason, Drake will experience its largest roster turnover since DeVries’ first season. There will be speculation around DeVries’ future as ‘power conferences’ look to fill coaching vacancies. We will keep close tabs on the Drake program.

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