Warren leads Bradley past Drake in MVC opener

DES MOINES (DU) — Junior guard Andrew Warren scored a season-high 24 points, including 19 in the second half, as Bradley rallied from a five-point deficit to spoil Drake’s Missouri Valley Conference opener, 67-59, Tuesday night at the Drake Knapp Center.

After a layup by Ryan Wedel gave Drake a 39-34 lead with 12:22 left, Warren triggered a 16-7 run by scoring 13 points during a five-minute three-second stretch to give the Braves a 50-46 lead it never relinquished.

Senior guard Josh Young led a balanced Drake attack with 14 points, including three 3-point baskets. Young moved into sixth place on the school career scoring list with 1,479 points surpassing Wayne Kreklow who had 1,471 points from 1975-79.

Drake struggled from the floor, shooting just 34.4 percent making 21 of 61 shots.

The Bulldogs, who entered the game leading the MVC in three-point baskets (9.4), made nine treys tying the most Bradley has allowed an opponent this season.

“We had a tough night on the offensive end,” said Drake head coach Mark Phelps, whose team suffered its third straight loss to fall to 5-8.

“I thought we had Warren guarded up,” Phelps added. “He made some tough shots, was scoring in many ways.  Every time we looked
up he was scoring a basket.”

The Bulldogs went nearly 4:44 without making a basket late in the game allowing Bradley to build a 59-49 lead before Young ended the drought with a three-point basket with 1:44 remaining.

Drake cut the deficit to six points on two occasions. But Bradley sealed the victory by making six free throws. The Braves shot a season-high 85.7 percent from the charity line making 18 of 21 shots compared to 8 of 10 shooting by Drake.

Freshman forward Aaron Hawley came off the bench to add 11 points for Drake and a career-high eight rebounds and three steals.

Drake senior reserve guard Craig Stanley tallied 10 points - all in the second half.

Freshman center Seth VanDeest grabbed a career-high nine rebounds for Drake which was outrebounded, 39-36.

Drake senior forward Adam Templeton had seven points - all in the first half.  But he did not play the last 5:43 of the first period after collecting two fouls in a 12-second span.