In a stunning turn of events, Drake handed Southern Illinois a devastating 76-73 defeat at the Banterra Center, pulling off a monumental upset that will send shockwaves through the college basketball landscape. The Bulldogs, ranked 154 in the net rankings, took down the 141-ranked Salukis, defying expectations and proving that they are a force to be reckoned with.
The game was a back-and-forth affair, with Southern Illinois taking a 37-26 lead into halftime. However, Drake came out firing in the second half, outscoring the Salukis 41-30 to set up a thrilling finish. The Bulldogs' Jalen Quinn was instrumental in the comeback, pouring in 21 points and grabbing 5 rebounds to lead his team to victory. Quinn's performance was matched by Southern Illinois's Damien Mayo Jr., who tallied 19 points and 7 rebounds in a losing effort.
Despite being outplayed in the first half, Drake's resilience and determination paid off in the end. The Bulldogs' Eli Shetlar and Okku Federiko also made significant contributions, with Shetlar notching 19 points and 11 rebounds, and Federiko adding 12 points and 8 rebounds. For Southern Illinois, Rolyns Aligbe and Quel'Ron House joined Mayo Jr. in double figures, with Aligbe recording 11 points and 11 rebounds, and House scoring 11 points, grabbing 7 rebounds, and dishing out 5 assists.
The loss is a significant setback for Southern Illinois, which was looking to build momentum heading into the latter part of the season. Instead, the Salukis will have to regroup and refocus after suffering a damaging defeat at the hands of a lower-ranked opponent. On the other hand, Drake's upset victory is a major boost to their resume, giving them a much-needed Quad 3 win that will help to strengthen their tournament chances.
This result will have real consequences for both teams' tournament prospects. The win is a major feather in Drake's cap, as they look to climb the rankings and make a push for a postseason berth. For Southern Illinois, the loss is a missed opportunity to pad their resume with a Quad 3 win, and they must bounce back quickly to stay in the hunt. As it stands, the Bulldogs' victory will be a key talking point in the lead-up to the tournament, and they want to build on this momentum in their upcoming games. With this upset, Drake has taken a significant step forward, and their tournament chances are now looking more promising than ever.