VALPARAISO, Ind. – Valparaiso scored the final six points of the game to push past the Drake University men’s basketball team in the final minutes of a 66-61 decision Saturday afternoon at the Athletics-Recreation Center.
“It’s a typical Valley game and that’s what you’re going to see across the league every night,” said Drake head coach Darian DeVries. “Give credit to Valpo. They made plays down the stretch to come away with the win and come up with stops they needed.”
Roman Penn, who hails from nearby Calumet City, Ind., led Drake with 21 points, one shy of a career high, on 9-of-15 shooting with eight rebounds and seven assists. Liam Robbins added 13 points in the loss while Garrett Sturtz added 12, 10 of them coming on backdoor cuts to the basket to frustrate the Crusaders.
Drake (12-5, 2-2 MVC) was unable to establish any significant cushion over the Crusaders as Valpo stayed within two possessions in the second half until tying the contest at 57-57 with 4:30 left in the game. Ninety seconds later, a Jon Kiser three-pointer put the Crusaders up, 60-59.
Facing a 62-61 deficit in the final minute, Drake’s defense initially held on a Valpo possession. Unfortunately for Drake, a defensive rebound was plucked from the Bulldogs’ fingertips to extend the possession and force Drake to foul with 18 seconds left. Valpo’s front end was off the mark, and Drake pushed the ball up the court before breaking down and losing control of the ball in the lane. The Crusaders jumped on the loose ball with the benefit of the possession arrow to take possession with 4.1 seconds left.
“To win these games, you have to make plays on both ends of the floor and Valpo did a better job of that tonight,” DeVries said.
Drake got the ball back with 3.1 seconds left down 64-61 but had its full-court pass intercepted to end any comeback hopes on the road.
Valparaiso (9-8, 2-2 MVC) was led by 18 points from Donovan Clay and 15 points from Javon Freeman-Liberty. The Crusaders’ defense held Drake to 2-of-20 shooting from the three-point arc, the Bulldogs’ lowest output in more than five seasons.
Valpo connected on 10 three-pointers and was 18-of-20 from the line.
Drake trailed by as many as seven points midway through the first half and Valpo led for the majority of the half until Sturtz and Penn started to chisel away at that lead. Sturtz was able to slip behind the defense for multiple backdoor cuts and easy baskets to finish the half with eight points on five shots.
Penn took over that scoring mantle with four-straight points in the final two minutes of the opening half to briefly tie the game at 32-32 with 90 seconds left in the period. After a Valpo bucket, Robbins closed the half with a thunderous dunk to re-tie the game at 34-34 at halftime. Robbins finished the half with seven points and three blocks to move into fifth in single-season blocks in Drake history.
Valpo built their early first-half lead behind early three-pointers from Donovan Clay and a perfect 11-of-11 showing at the free-throw line in the first 20 minutes.
Despite opening the second half with four-straight turnovers, Drake locked down on Valpo and kicked the offense in gear with a 6-0 run to take a 40-34 lead four minutes into the period and take control for much of the second half before Valpo’s late rally.
The Bulldogs return home for their next contest Thursday, Jan. 16, night at the Knapp Center against Illinois State. Tipoff is set for 7 p.m.
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