SPRINGFIELD, Mo. Reed Timmer completed a 4-point play with 1.8 seconds left in the game to cap a 20-point outing in Drakes 67-63 win over Missouri State on Sunday.
Graham Woodward was left open in the corner for a 3-pointer to give Drake a 63-62 lead with 13.8 to go. After Alize Johnson made 1 of 2 free throws, Timmer lost control of it on a dribble through his legs, but regained it and launched a deep 3-pointer just before the buzzer. The Bulldogs all-time leading scorer would hit the free throw after Johnson fouled him on the shot.
The win was just Drakes third in Springfield and second in a row at JQH Arena. The Bulldogs had led for most of the game, but needed a 9-1 run which included multiple MSU missed free throws to complete a late comeback and sweep the Bears.
“It was a huge win for our guys and we did what had to do,” Drake head coach Niko Medved said postgame. “They made a run, we made a run right back and what a great finish at the end. We just made one more play than them, but what a pair of huge shots from our seniors. Reed did what he’s done for us all year, and I couldn’t be more proud of them to continue to fight and scrap.”
Nick McGlynn and DeAntae McMurray each added nine points for Drake (16-13, 10-6 Missouri Valley Conference). Casey Schlatter chipped in eight points and a career-high 11 rebounds.
McMurray made an off-balance jumper at the buzzer to close the first half with a 35-25 lead.
Alize Johnson had 14 points and 16 rebounds and J.T. Miller added 14 points for Missouri State (17-12, 7-9).
It was an ugly shooting night for both teams, as Drake shot 41 percent from the field, but topped Missouri States 39 percent. The Bulldogs made 8 of 23 (35 percent) 3-point attempts, doubling the Bears 4 of 22 (18 percent) output from downtown. Paul Lusks squad also struggled at the free-throw line, making 7 of 16 attempts.
Most of MSUs bench was removed in the second half after going onto the court to help Jarred Dixon up after a hard foul. The foul happened during an 18-3 Bears run that gave the home team a late lead.
Drakes next game comes at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Illinois State (15-13 9-7). The Redbirds sit just one game behind the Bulldogs in the conference standings with two regular-season games remaining.
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