Drake basketball defeats top-seeded Belmont in MVC tournament

Drake beat top-seeded Belmont 100-79 in the Missouri Valley Conference quarterfinals on March 6, after snapping a nine-game losing streak with a March 5 win over Southern Illinois, and the No. 9 seed advanced to the semifinals.

Drake's men’s basketball team won consecutive games in the Missouri Valley Conference tournament. On March 5 they defeated Southern Illinois, ending a nine-game losing streak. On March 6 they beat regular-season champion and No. 1 seed Belmont, 100-79. Coach Eric Henderson noted the team's resilience during a difficult stretch. Key facts: - Drake defeated Belmont 100-79 in the MVC quarterfinals on March 6. - The win followed a March 5 victory over Southern Illinois that snapped a nine-game losing streak. - Jalen Quinn scored a game-high 31 points in the Belmont game. - Owen Larson had a career-high 25 points and also recorded eight rebounds and eight assists. - Drake became the first No. 9 seed in MVC tournament history to reach the semifinal round and reached the semifinals for the eighth straight season. Summary: Drake’s consecutive wins have produced a rare result for a No. 9 seed and extended the program's run of semifinal appearances. The Bulldogs will face either Murray State or UIC on Saturday, March 7 at 2:30 p.m. for a spot in the championship game.