Bradley 72 - 71 Drake
Final
  for this game

Drake goes for 24th win vs. Bradley

Feb 19, 2008 - 1:00 PM Bradley (15-12) at No. 18 Drake (23-2) 835 pm EST

DES MOINES, Iowa (Ticker) -- Having already locked up the Missouri Valley Conference title, No. 18 Drake can now turn its collective efforts to other things.

The Bulldogs (23-2, 14-1) parlayed a victory over Northern Iowa and Illinois State's loss to Indiana State to win their first MVC title since 1971.

Drake, which was picked to finish ninth in the conference, finished over .500 for the first time since 1987 last season.

Sophomore guard Josh Young averages 15.9 points and senior guard Leonard Houston 14.2 for Drake, which had a 21-game winning streak snapped before Saturday's win at Northern Iowa.

The Braves (15-12, 8-7) have won seven of their last nine games, including Saturday's 87-59 home win over Creighton.

The victory came with a price, though. Sophomore guard Andrew Warren, who was averaging 13.1 points per game, broke a bone in his left (non-shooting) hand late in the game and his status for the rest of the season is undetermined.

Senior guard Daniel Ruffin leads four Bradley players averaging double figures at 14.7 points per game, just ahead of senior guard Jeremy Crouch at 14.2.

Drake, which is 13-0 at home, won at Bradley, 69-68, on January 16.






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