ST. LOUIS, MO. - Junior swingman Tucker DeVries, the reigning two-time Larry Bird Player of the Year, scored 19 points including 14 in the first half, keying No. 2 seed Drake to a 79-58 victory past No. 10 seed Evansville in the quarterfinal round of the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Tournament Friday at the Enterprise Center.
The Bulldogs advanced to the semifinal round for the 11th time, including the sixth straight year under coach Darrian DeVries. It also marked the fourth straight year the No. 2 seed has advanced to the semifinal round of the MVC Tournament.
Drake, earning its third straight win, improved to 26-6 overall, marking the second straight season the Bulldogs have won at least 26 games and fifth time in program history (1968-69, 26-5; 2007-08, 28-5; 2020-21, 26-5; 2022-23, 27-8; 2023-24, 26-6).
Clinging to a 21-18 lead, Drake closed out the first half with a 22-4 run holding the Aces to just one basket (on nine shots) in the final 8:09 of play to enter intermission with a 43-22 cushion.
Drake outrebounded Evansville, 37-31, improving to 16-1 when out-rebounding opponents this season. Owning a 43-22 halftime lead, Drake enjoyed its 14th double-digit halftime lead of the season, while scoring 40 or more points in the first half for the 14th time this season. Drake also improved to 20-1 when leading at the half and 114-14 during the Darian DeVries coaching era.
DeVries also led the Bulldogs with six rebounds, six assists and three steals. Guard Atin Wright, who led the Bulldogs in their last outing at Evansville with a season-high 26 points, scored 12 points. Reserve Kyron Gibson added 10 points.
DeVries moved into No. 3 on the Drake school single-season scoring list at 676 points, passing Red Murrell who scored 668 in 1957-58. DeVries made all six free throws extending his consecutive free throw made string to 16 while pushing his career total to 344 made, moving past Willie Cerf (1953-56, 339) into No. 6 on the Drake career free throw made list.
Evansville closed the season with a 16-17 overall record.
Forward Yacine Toumi just missed posting his third double-double of the season while leading the Purple Aces with 14 points and nine rebounds. Guard Kenny Strawbridge added nine points for the Purple Aces. Evansville senior Ben Humrichous was limited to six points one day after registering his first double-double of the season against Illinois State (15 points, 11 rebounds).
Drake earned its 11th straight win against Evansville, improving its lead in the series to 34-28.