Drake Bulldogs freshman guard Kevin Overton (1) reacts after a call on Sunday during the Missouri Valley Conference Arch Madness championship against the Indiana State Sycamores at the Enterprise Center in downtown St. Louis.
The Drake Bulldogs once again captured the Missouri Valley Conference’s Arch Madness championship, punching their ticket to the NCAA men’s basketball tournament.
Drake’s scrappy 84-80 victory over the Indiana State Sycamores at the Enterprise Center marks the third MVC men’s basketball championship in the team’s history. Drake is now 28-6 on the season. This postseason run will be the Bulldogs’ seventh NCAA Tournament appearance — they fell last year to the University of Miami Hurricanes in the first round.
“I’m going to take this all in with my family, my team, you know, relax for a couple of days because my body’s going to hurt,” said Drake sophomore guard Conor Enright after the tournament awards ceremony on Sunday. “Then [we’re] getting ready because we want some redemption from March Madness last year.”
The Bulldogs were seeded second and defeated the Evansville Purple Aces and Northern Iowa Panthers to reach the championship game.
Drake Bulldogs guard/forward Tucker DeVries, the two-time MVC player of the year, scored 27 points and added seven rebounds in the winning effort. He walked away with MVC Tournament most outstanding player honors for the second consecutive year.
Drake head coach Darian DeVries earned his 150th victory of a six-year run with the program. He has guided the Bulldogs to four straight MVC Tournament championship games and led the team to a 13-3 record in MVC Tournament play.
“The kids fought hard from where we were in the summertime with 10 new guys,” DeVries said after the game. “I thought it was incredible leadership through our veterans we had, but also all the new guys buying in and believing in what we were doing and how you get there.”
Indiana State, under head coach Josh Schertz, is hoping for an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament with its 28-5 record. If Indiana State is left out, it would be one of the first schools with a Top 30NET ranking in NCAA history to be passed up. The Sycamores were nationally ranked for the first time since 1978-79 in the middle of their season, until back-to-back losses to Illinois State and Southern Illinois.
“Indiana State is an incredible basketball team, and they deserve to be in the NCAA tournament,” DeVries said. “There’s no question about that.”
The NCAA March Madness selection show can be streamed at 5 p.m. CDT March 17 on CBS — or following the conclusion of the Big Ten championship game if it runs later.
See photos from the championship game by St. Louis Public Radio’s Eric Lee:
Eric Lee
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St. Louis Public Radio
Drake Bulldogs Pep Band Director Vince Kenney sings along to a song before the team's Arch Madness championship matchup against the Indiana State Sycamores on Sunday at Ballpark Village in downtown St. Louis.
Eric Lee
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St. Louis Public Radio
Fans gather before the Arch Madness championship game between the Drake Bulldogs and Indiana State Sycamores on Sunday at Ballpark Village in downtown St. Louis.
Eric Lee
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St. Louis Public Radio
An Indiana State University fan sports an alumni chain, and Ann Alvarado, 44, of Dallas, Texas, wears an earring of her son, Drake Bulldogs guard Atin Wright on Sunday at Ballpark Village in downtown St. Louis.
Eric Lee
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St. Louis Public Radio
Drake Bulldogs forward Elijah Price (22) high-fives fans before they play the Indiana State Sycamores in the Arch Madness championship on Sunday at Ballpark Village in downtown St. Louis.
Eric Lee
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St. Louis Public Radio
Drake Bulldogs head coach Darian DeVries greets a fan before taking on the Indiana States Sycamores on Sunday at Ballpark Village in downtown St. Louis.
Eric Lee
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St. Louis Public Radio
The Drake Bulldogs gather before taking the court against the Indiana State Sycamores on Sunday during the Missouri Valley Conference Arch Madness championship.
Eric Lee
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St. Louis Public Radio
Indiana State sophomore center Robbie Avila (21) attempts to keep the ball from the Drake defense on Sunday during the Missouri Valley Conference Arch Madness championship at the Enterprise Center in downtown St. Louis.
Eric Lee
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St. Louis Public Radio
A fan watches as Drake Bulldogs freshman guard Colby Garland (3) goes for a basket Indiana State sophomore center Robbie Avila (21) on Sunday during the Missouri Valley Conference Arch Madness championship.
Eric Lee
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St. Louis Public Radio
Drake forward Darnell Brodie (51) attempts to block a basketball attempt by Indiana State sophomore center Robbie Avila (21) on Sunday during the Missouri Valley Conference Arch Madness championship.
Eric Lee
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St. Louis Public Radio
Drake head coach Darian DeVries calls out to his players during the Missouri Valley Conference Arch Madness championship Sunday at the Enterprise Center.
Eric Lee
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St. Louis Public Radio
Drake redshirt sophomore guard Conor Enright (4) reacts after a three-point basket on Sunday during the Missouri Valley Conference Arch Madness championship.
Eric Lee
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St. Louis Public Radio
Indiana State guard Ryan Conwell (3) looks ahead as guard Isaiah Swope (2) takes the ball on Sunday during the Missouri Valley Conference Arch Madness championship against the Drake Bulldogs in downtown St. Louis.
Eric Lee
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St. Louis Public Radio
Indiana State fans cheer on the Sycamores as they take on the Drake Bulldogs on Sunday during the Missouri Valley Conference Arch Madness championship.
Eric Lee
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St. Louis Public Radio
Indiana State cheerleader Lauren Murphy looks toward a video board as the Sycamores battle the Drake Bulldogs on Sunday during the Missouri Valley Conference Arch Madness championship at the Enterprise Center.
Eric Lee
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St. Louis Public Radio
Drake Bulldogs graduate forward Darnell Brodie (51) attempts to block an Indiana State basket on Sunday during the Missouri Valley Conference Arch Madness championship.
Eric Lee
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St. Louis Public Radio
Indiana State junior guard Julian Larry (1) attempts to block Drake freshman guard Kevin Overton (1) on Sunday during the Missouri Valley Conference Arch Madness championship in downtown St. Louis.
Eric Lee
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St. Louis Public Radio
Tiffany Brooks, of Oklahoma City, watches as the game clock runs down on Sunday during the Missouri Valley Conference Arch Madness championship at the Enterprise Center.
Eric Lee
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St. Louis Public Radio
Drake Bulldogs Conor Enright (4) extends a hand to graduate forward Darnell Brodie (51) on Sunday during the Missouri Valley Conference Arch Madness championship against the Indiana State Sycamores.
Eric Lee
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St. Louis Public Radio
Drake Bulldogs graduate forward Darnell Brodie (51) lines up a free throw on Sunday during the Missouri Valley Conference Arch Madness championship.
Eric Lee
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St. Louis Public Radio
Indiana State fans cheer on the Sycamores as they take on the Drake Bulldogs on Sunday during the Missouri Valley Conference Arch Madness championship.
Eric Lee
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St. Louis Public Radio
The Indiana State Sycamores and Drake Bulldogs play on Sunday during the Missouri Valley Conference Arch Madness championship at the Enterprise Center in downtown St. Louis.
Eric Lee
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St. Louis Public Radio
A Drake Bulldogs fan is lifted during the “Simba Cam” on Sunday during the Missouri Valley Conference Arch Madness championship game.
Eric Lee
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St. Louis Public Radio
Indiana State fans cheer on the Sycamores as they take on the Drake Bulldogs on Sunday during the Missouri Valley Conference Arch Madness championship.
Eric Lee
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St. Louis Public Radio
The Drake Bulldogs celebrate as they defeat the Indiana State Sycamores, 84-80, on Sunday during the Missouri Valley Conference Arch Madness championship at the Enterprise Center in downtown St. Louis.
Eric Lee
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St. Louis Public Radio
Indiana State junior guard Jayson Kent (20) reacts after losing to the Drake Bulldogs, 84-80, on Sunday during the Missouri Valley Conference Arch Madness championship.
Eric Lee
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St. Louis Public Radio
Drake Bulldogs graduate forward Darnell Brodie (51) embraces Indiana State junior guard Jayson Kent (20) reacts after the Bulldogs defeated the Sycamores, 84-80, on Sunday during the Missouri Valley Conference Arch Madness championship at the Enterprise Center in downtown St. Louis.
Eric Lee
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St. Louis Public Radio
The Drake Bulldogs celebrate after defeating the Indiana State Sycamores, 84-80, on Sunday during the Missouri Valley Conference Arch Madness championship in downtown St. Louis.
Eric Lee
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St. Louis Public Radio
Griff II, the Drake Bulldogs mascot, stands with the team after defeating the Indiana State Sycamores, 84-80, on Sunday during the Missouri Valley Conference Arch Madness championship.
Eric Lee
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St. Louis Public Radio
Drake Bulldogs junior guard/forward Tucker DeVries cuts down the net after defeating the Indiana State Sycamores, 84-80, on Sunday at the Enterprise Center in downtown St. Louis.
Eric Lee
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St. Louis Public Radio
Drake Bulldogs junior guard/forward Tucker DeVries signs the shirt of Meet Patel, 22, of Round Lake, Ill., after defeating the Indiana State Sycamores, 84-80, on Sunday during the Missouri Valley Conference Arch Madness championship in downtown St. Louis.
