Drake beats Illinois State 77-60

DES MOINES - Ben Simons scored 21 points Sunday night and Drake won its third in a row, beating Illinois State 77-60.

Rayvonte Rice added 14 points, Kurt Alexander scored 13 and Kraidon Woods had 11 points and 12 rebounds for the Bulldogs (11-7, 4-3 Missouri Valley), who are 9-1 at home.

Drake only trailed after Illinois State scored the first basket, then the Bulldogs ran off eight straight points. Simons had 15 points in the first half and Drake led 41-33 at the break.

Nic Moore led Illinois State (11-7, 3-4) with 12 points. Jon Ekey and Tyler Brown added 11 for the Redbirds, who have lost three straight. Bryant Allen, who had 29 points on Friday in an 87-78 loss to No. 23 Creighton, was held to six points on Sunday.

ILLINOIS ST. (11-7)

Ekey 4-7 0-0 11, Carmichael 4-8 1-2 9, Brown 4-13 0-1 11, Moore 3-11 4-4 12, Wilkins 1-3 4-4 6, Allen 2-6 2-2 6, Cousin 1-5 0-2 3, Upshaw 0-0 0-0 0, Threloff 1-3 0-0 2, Hill 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 20-57 11-15 60.

DRAKE (11-7)

Clarke 0-0 0-0 0, Jeffers 2-4 0-0 5, Simons 7-12 3-3 21, Madison 1-3 0-0 3, Rice 6-10 2-4 14, Hawley 2-6 0-0 6, Alexander 5-9 2-3 13, Parker 0-0 0-0 0, Woods 3-3 5-10 11, Smith 1-1 2-2 4. Totals 27-48 14-22 77.

Halftime_Drake 41-33. 3-Point Goals_Illinois St. 9-26 (Ekey 3-5, Brown 3-7, Moore 2-7, Cousin 1-4, Wilkins 0-1, Allen 0-2), Drake 9-21 (Simons 4-9, Hawley 2-4, Alexander 1-2, Madison 1-2, Jeffers 1-2, Rice 0-2). Fouled Out_Hawley. Rebounds_Illinois St. 28 (Carmichael 8), Drake 37 (Woods 12). Assists_Illinois St. 13 (Moore 4), Drake 13 (Madison 5). Total Fouls_Illinois St. 16, Drake 18. A_3,410.