Drake vs Missouri: Defense wins championships, and No. 11 Drake proved that by delivering a stifling performance in their 67-57 upset over No. 6 Missouri in the first round of the men’s NCAA Tournament. Known for having the best scoring defense in the country, the Bulldogs slowed down one of the nation’s most explosive offenses and punched their ticket to the second round.
In his inaugural season as head coach, Ben McCollum has instilled a formidable defensive strategy in Drake, allowing an average of just 58.4 points per game. However, the first-round contest against Missouri presented the toughest challenge to date. Missouri, known for its offensive prowess, averaged 84.5 points per game, ranking ninth in Division I, and held the sixth position in KenPom’s offensive efficiency ratings.
Despite this, the Bulldogs successfully dictated the pace of the game, forcing Missouri into a slow, methodical style where nearly every possession concluded as the shot clock wound down. As a result, the Tigers struggled to find their offensive rhythm.
Missouri briefly lead in the opening five minutes of the game, but Drake quickly took control, leading to difficulties for the Tigers. Mizzou managed only seven field goals in the first half and recorded nine turnovers. While the Tigers struggled offensively, Bennett Stirtz, the Missouri Valley player of the year, propelled Drake forward. As the national leader in minutes played per game, he contributed 12 of Drake’s first 18 points and concluded the game with a high of 21 points.
At halftime, Missouri found itself trailing by seven, and the situation deteriorated further. The Tigers missed their first eight attempts and committed four turnovers, enabling the Bulldogs to establish a game-high lead of 15 points with under 13 minutes remaining.
Midway through the second half, the Tigers’ offense began to show signs of life, narrowing the gap to just one point with four and a half minutes left. However, Drake remained composed, and Missouri’s shooting woes persisted, as they finished the last six minutes with only two successful field goals out of six attempts. The team’s total of 55 points marked the second-lowest scoring output for Missouri this season.
This victory enhances McCollum’s remarkable record in his inaugural season as a Division I coach. He previously secured four Division II national championships at Northwest Missouri State from 2017 to 2022 and was appointed following Darian DeVries’ departure to West Virginia.
Faced with the challenge of replacing a 28-win NCAA Tournament team that largely transferred out, McCollum brought in four players from Northwest Missouri State, including Stirtz. The Bulldogs clinched the Missouri Valley Conference tournament title for the third consecutive year and set a new school record with 30 wins.
Thursday’s victory marked Drake’s first NCAA Tournament win since the First Four game in 2021 and their first in the first round since the tournament’s expansion in 1985. The last win prior to this was during the 1971 25-team NCAA Tournament.
At the same time, Mizzou is experiencing ongoing difficulties in the first round of tournaments. This defeat signifies the sixth occasion in their last seven tournament appearances where they have been eliminated in the first round. Additionally, it marks the second consecutive tournament in which the Tigers, as a single-digit seed, have fallen to a double-digit seed. In 2023, as a No. 7 seed, the Tigers were defeated by 15th-seeded Princeton in the second round.
- NC Women’s Ice Hockey Championship 2025: Full Bracket, Schedule & How to Watch - March 22, 2025
- First Four to Final Four? How First Four NCAA Tournament Teams Perform in March Madness - March 22, 2025
- Wisconsin Voters Can Receive $100 from Musk-Affiliated Group Ahead of Supreme Court Election - March 22, 2025
