The Drake men’s basketball team is set to conclude its non-conference schedule on Saturday as they host North Dakota State at the Knapp Center. The Bulldogs look to secure a victory and boost their overall record to 7-4 this season. The game is scheduled to tip off at 1 p.m. CT and will be broadcasted on Mediacom22 with streaming options available via ESPN+.
After a week-long hiatus from competition, the Bulldogs are eager to add another win against a challenging NDSU team. Currently, Drake holds a record of 6-4, with three of those losses at home coming by a narrow combined total of nine points. Their most recent outing saw them fall to UAB with a close score of 74-69.
This matchup is particularly significant for Drake head coach Eric Henderson, who previously spent six seasons at South Dakota State. He has a storied history with North Dakota State, posting a 9-6 record against the Bison, which includes a Summit League Championship victory in 2022.
A key player for Drake this season has been senior guard Jalen Quinn, who has recently been on a scoring spree. He leads the team with an impressive average of 18.3 points per game and has elevated that to 21.4 points per game over his last five outings, shooting an impressive 55.4% from the field. Quinn ranks first in the Missouri Valley Conference for scoring, fifth in assists with an average of 3.8, and leads the conference in minutes played.
Supporting Quinn, Okku Federiko and Jaehshon Thomas have also made significant contributions, with average points of 12.3 and 11.1, respectively.
North Dakota State, entering the game with a record of 8-3, has had strong recent performances, winning eight of their last nine games. They began this week with a solid road victory against CSU Bakersfield, finishing 80-69. This season, the Bison have had a mixed experience on the road with a 2-3 record, but managed to secure a win against Southern Illinois earlier in the season.
Under the leadership of head coach David Richman, who has been with NDSU for 12 seasons, the team boasts a career record of 219-145. The Bison will look to improve on their one-game experience against Missouri Valley Conference teams this year.
Historically, Drake has performed well against North Dakota State, maintaining a perfect 7-0 record in their all-time series. The Bulldogs have claimed all six encounters on their home court in Des Moines, as well as a victory in a neutral site matchup.
As both teams prepare for this competitive clash, Drake will transition into Missouri Valley Conference play, with upcoming games scheduled against Murray State and Evansville later in December.
