In a thrilling Missouri Valley Conference title game, Drake University secured its third MVC Tournament championship in program history by defeating top-seeded Indiana State with a final score of 84-80. This victory marks Drake's return to the NCAA Tournament, achieving back-to-back appearances for the first time since the 1970s. Despite the loss, there is a strong call among sports commentators and fans for Indiana State, which now holds a 28-6 record, to also be granted an at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament. The game was highly competitive, with Indiana State managing to erase an 18-point deficit to tie the game, showcasing the high level of play that argues for both teams' inclusion in the NCAA field. Notably, Drake's Tucker DeVries, named player of the year, and Conor Enright, who scored a crucial three-pointer late in the game, were pivotal in securing the win. Meanwhile, Stetson University also made headlines by winning the ASun title game against Austin Peay, led by Jalen Blackmon's stunning 43-point performance, with 34 points coming in the second half, marking Stetson's first-ever NCAA tournament berth. Indiana State's Isaiah Swope contributed significantly with 19 points in the second half.
Stetson wins the ASun and is in the NCAA tournament for the first time.
Donnie Jones has led Stetson to its first-ever NCAA tourney berth after a win over Austin Peay in the ASUN title game. Jalen Blackmon went for 43 in the win!!! Jones took over a program 5 years ago that hadnโt had a winning season since 2001 - when it was in the Trans Americaโฆ
STETSON. DANCING. Hatters are going to the NCAA tournament for the first time in program history. What an all-time performance by Jalen Blackmon. 43 points, with 34 coming in the second half. Led the ASUN in scoring this year, was at his best when it mattered. Just incredible.
CONGRATS 2mbb Drake Bulldogs winning the Missouri Valley tournament + player of the yr Tucker devries His dad coach devries must b proud
they say this is Stetsonโs first NCAA Tournament appearance, even though I famously led the Hatters to a few of them in College Hoops 2K8
STETSON IS GOING DANCING ๐ The Hatters punch their FIRST EVER ticket to the NCAA Tournament ๐ #MarchMadness https://t.co/nPTWSpfeNM
That clamor you hear out in the Caribbean is @TBTimes_Rays howling with glee over his @DrakeBulldogsMB again making the NCAA tourney.
Tough loss for Indiana State Menโs Basketball in the MVC Tournament Championship Game Sunday in St. Louis, dropping an 84-80 decision to Drake. The Bulldogs earn the NCAA Automatic bid. And now the Sycamores (28-6) must wait for Selection Sunday a week from today.
HEREโS TO THE ONES WHO WEAR THE D! DRAKE IS DANCING IN CONSECUTIVE YEARS FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE 1970โS. WELCOME BACK TUCKER DEVRIES! WE NEED A TWO BID VALLEY! PRONTO! https://t.co/IMIpadi72v
We're going to have plenty of time to analyze Indiana State's resume* -- but the biggest issue for them is the week off from now until Selection Sunday. Every other bubble team will have chances to pass them in the pecking order. *One Q1 win, one Q4 loss, good metrics, 27 wins
DRAKE TAKES DOWN TOP-SEEDED INDIANA STATE FOR ITS THIRD MVC TOURNAMENT CHAMPIONSHIP IN PROGRAM HISTORY ๐ @DrakeBulldogsMB punch their ticket into the NCAA Tournament ๐๏ธ https://t.co/JFtO63EcXV
Drake beats Indiana State in an Arch Madness thriller. Let me be the 2,224th person on your timeline to say: Please give Indiana State an at-large bid over some mediocre power conference team that has been checked out for weeks. Please, and thank you ๐บ๐ธ๐บ๐ธ
HEREโS TO THE ONES WHO WHERE THE D! DRAKE IS DANCING IN CONSECUTIVE YEARS FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE 1970โS. WELCOME BACK TUCKER DEVRIES! WE NEED A TWO BID VALLEY! PRONTO! https://t.co/FV6HSnNVhr
Drake and Indiana State both need to be in. No doubt. Awesome coaches, teams, stars. Identical records. #TwoBidMVC
Gonna be a long week for Indiana State. They are right on the cut line. I don't think they will end up with an at-large bid but I hope I'm wrong.
Drake beats Indiana State to win the Missouri Valley and get the auto bid. Darian DeVries making back-to-back NCAA tourney appearances and has gone 3 times in his 6 years at the helm. Letโs hope Indiana State gets the at-large bid.
DRAKE. DANCING. Bulldogs are headed to their second straight NCAA tournament, dancing for the third time in four seasons. Tucker DeVries led the way with 27 points, but it was Conor Enright who hit the game's biggest shot. Going to be a LONG week for Indiana State ...
.@DrakeBulldogsMB take down the Sycamores for the Missouri Valley ๐ https://t.co/T0KEh6GIYG
.@SetonHallMBBtransfer and Newark native @BIGxBRODIE went for 17 and 8 for @DrakeBulldogsMB in the MVC title game to help lead them to the Big Dance https://t.co/6RdJ2DXVx5
DRAKE PUNCHES THEIR TICKET ๐๏ธ The Bulldogs are dancing for a second straight year ๐บ #MarchMadness https://t.co/wm1gqjrhzR
.@SetonHallMBB transfer and Newark native @THE_BIGBRODIE has 17 and 8 for @DrakeBulldogsMB in the MVC title game https://t.co/6RdJ2DXVx5
DRAKE TAKES THE LEAD BACK ๐คฏ @DrakeBulldogsMB ARCH MADNESS!!! (via @CBSSportsCBB) https://t.co/S2yuSwhOnP
Now it's @DrakeBulldogsMB on a 7-0 run. https://t.co/v26400q3w8
ENRIGHT WITH A DAGGER ๐ฏย @DrakeBulldogsMB https://t.co/RDCcrauWx7
Don't need more mediocre from the Power 6 bubble in the tourney; we need Drake and Indiana State. Whoever wins this monster game.
Everyone in the arena -- including Indiana State -- was expecting Tucker DeVries to go to work. But he fired it to Conor Enright for the go-ahead three. Drake up three with the ball, 1:23 left.
Indiana State's Isaiah Swope had zero points at halftime. He now has 19. Sycamores trail Drake by three with 1:23 to play with a trip to the NCAA tournament on the line. Get thee to CBS.
CONOR ENRIGHT. OH. MY. GOSH.
Four-star 2025 forward Trent Sisley (@SisleyTrent) of Heritage Hills and four-star 2025 shooting guard Braylon Mullins (@mullins_braylon) of Greenfield-Central on their Indiana visits. #iubb https://t.co/Qq27Ccuy3j
Indiana State and Drake should both make the NCAA Tournament based on the critical "cmon" principle imo
Itโs going to be a week of exhausting discourse over the loser of this very high-level conference tournament final, and how expanding the NCAA Tournament would ultimately screw over the little guy. https://t.co/FSnDeudymM
Once down as much as 18, Indiana State has come ALL the way back to tie it up in the MVC title game ๐ (via @CBSSportsCBB) https://t.co/WG2LCrPjGE
Come on Indiana State!
People who think that the only future of college basketball is a bunch of 5-stars scrimmaging each other in NIL-funded tournaments as they prepare for the NBA Draft should flip on Indiana State/Drake and see what they're missing.
The NCAA Tournament needs Indiana State *and* Drake.
Hereโs my simple case for both Drake and Indiana State to make the NCAA field: I have a hard time believing in todayโs parity-filled college basketball that either of these teams couldnโt go 8-10 in a power conference.
HERE COME THE SYCAMORES! Indiana State has pulled within two possessions after trailing Drake by as many as 18. https://t.co/0Pr8SdSW7C
Wow. Drake is up 16 on Indiana State. Donโt feel confident about a two-bid Valley but hopefully the league gets a better drawl in the bracket than it did last year. That Drake team had real potential.
Drake-Indiana State has been such a high level game so far. Just further reiterating why both these teams should be in the NCAAT
Column: Letโs make one thing easy on the NCAA Tournament selection committee โ slot both Indiana State and Drake into the field, no matter what happens when they meet Sunday. The Missouri Valley deserves two teams. https://t.co/dkvT47GzMQ
No. 1 Indiana State vs. No. 2 Drake in the Missouri Valley title game. Tomorrow at 2 pm on CBS. Would be great to see both of these teams in the NCAA tourney.
Drake wins. We have the ideal matchup: Drake-Indiana State final. https://t.co/Jc4TksKpca