Drake 65, Missouri State 54 - No Josh Young meant some problems for the Bulldogs. They trailed by eight, their biggest deficit of the season, and shot 40% but closed strong enough to earn victory 14. Shane Laurie tied the game at 54 with four minutes to play but his Bears wouldn't score again and watched Drake hit free throws to close the game out. The Bears shot very well from two, 19-of-31, but missed 17-of-20 three pointers which makes their offensive strategy questionable to say the least. Drake's offense showed some depth without Young, out indefinitely with a sprained ankle. Klayton Korver hit five threes and finished with 19 points, Leonard Houston had 16 and Jonathan Cox had 13. Illinois State 74, Evansville 66 - Osiris Eldridge had 17 points and the Redbirds made 13 free throws in the last three and a half minutes to reach eight straight wins for the first time since 1992. Free throws loomed large for the Purple Aces as well. They made just 19-of-35 in this slow affair and turned Shy Ely's career game into an afterthought. Ely had 28 points but didn't get enough help from his mates to pull out the victory.
Michigan State has avoided the fate of much of their brethren in the Big 10. Ignoring their exhibition loss to Grand Valley State, as the NCAA does, the Spartans have avoided a loss to a mid-major this season. They remained unblemished by the skin of their teeth in Peoria last night thanks to a late rally past Bradley 66-61. 
