Game 4 - #9 Drake 100, #1 Belmont 79
Friday, March 5, 2026
MVC Tournament Notes— Drake posted its 11th straight MVC Tournament victory - the longest tournament winning streak ever by an MVC school…This marked just the second time the No. 1 seed has ever lost in the quarterfinal round, the other being 2020 when then No. 8 seed Drake upended top-seeded UNI, 77-56, in the quarterfinal round.This marks the first time the No. 9 seed has ever won two MVC Tournament games and advanced to the semifinal round…The No. 9 seed is 20-31 in the MVC Tournament. This marked the first time a team had scored 100 points in the MVC Tournament since Drake beat Evansville, 101-96 in overtime in the first round of the 2007 tournament.
Belmont’s 37 3-point attempts is the most ever in an MVC Tournament game, topping the previous record of 36 by Illinois State last year (3/7/25) against Belmont…The Bruins’ 14 3-pointers was just two shy of the all-time record in MVC Tourney games.
Drake Notes — Drake, earning its second straight win, improved to 14-19 under first-year coach Eric Henderson. The Bulldogs moved their MVC Tournament record to 34-43 including a 6-4 mark as a No. 9 seed, while advancing to the semifinal round for the eighth straight year dating back to 2019 and 14th time in program history. Drake moved its MVC Tournament record against Belmont to 2-0, and 6-4 overall all-time.
Drake shot 59.6 percent (31-52) marking its eighth game shooting 50 percent or better, but first time over the last nine contests. Drake made 11 three point baskets, marking the 10th game in which they made 10 or more treys in a game, including 17 and 14 treys in previous two meetings against Belmont. Drake’s 21 assists, marking the fourth game collecting 20 or more assists this season.
Drake Player Plaudits – Senior transfer Jalen Quinn enjoyed his 18th 20-plus scoring game with 31 points including 12 in the first half. Quinn set career highs for free throws made (13) and attempts (16). Quinn became just the third player in Drake history to score 30-plus points five times in a season joining Lewis Lloyd (1979-80, 1980-81) and Red Murrell (1956-56, 1957-58) who both did it twice. Quinn moved into No. 6 on the school single-season scoring list, passing Willie McCarter (1968-69, 633) at 624 points.
Sophomore guard Owen Larson posted his third 20-plus scoring game with a career-high 25 points, while grabbing a team-high eight rebounds and a career-high eight assists. Larson tied his career high with four three-point baskets, while enjoying his sixth game with three or more three-pointers
Jaehshon Thomas added 13 points, including 11 in the second half. It was his 14th double-digit scoring game of the season but first over the last nine games. Thomas was scoreless in Drake’s 1st round win against Southern Illinois Thursday. Eli Shetlar collected 12 points, while tying a career high with three steals.
BELMONT NOTES– The Bruins, suffering their second straight loss, saw their record slip to 26-6. Belmont’s MVC Tournament record is 2-4 including a 1-3 mark in the quarterfinal round and a 0-2 record against Drake in the MVC Tournament…the 21-point deficit is the largest in any loss for the Bruins this year, and 100 points was the most they’ve given up all season…with just one steal all game, the Bruins set a season low.
Belmont Player Plaudits — Redshirt senior forward Aidan Noyes set a new career high with a team-high 19 points, thanks to a career-high five 3-pointers…it’s just the third time he’s reached double digits in points. Redshirt sophomore forward Sam Orme scored 18 with a career-tying four 3-pointers. Graduate guard Tyler Lundblade reached the 500-point mark on the season with his 11 points, but had just two points in the second half. It’s the 29th time in 32 games he’s scored in double digits.
First-half recap — There were 11 lead changes and three ties. Belmont led Drake, 35-34, when Drake’s Andrew Ali left the game with foot injury but the Bulldogs responded with a 14-6 run to close out the half with five points from Eli Shetlar…Larson (13) and Quinn (12) combined for 25 points in first half. Each team made eight three pointers in the first half. Drake 18 baskets on 15 assists - that’s the most assists by Drake over its last 7 games.
Second-half recap — Drake made six straight shots in a 3:40 span to turn a 50-44 advantage into a 64-48 advantage aided by two baskets apiece by Larson and Thomas and was never threatened. Quinn (19) and Larson (12) combined for 31 points in the second half, while Jaehshon Thomas who started the second half for the injured Andrew Alia, scored 11 points in the second half. The Bulldogs owned its biggest lead at 98-76 following two free throws by Quinn.