Boxscore

DES MOINES, Iowa -- The same Drake University team that scored 51 points in a 16-point loss to Evansville in January scored 45 points in the first half alone here Wednesday night.

Thanks to the much-improved offense, Drake (13-16, 7-10) went on to hand Evansville (14-14, 8-9) its fourth straight loss, 87-69 in the next-to-last Missouri Valley Conference game for both teams.  The Aces close out the regular season Saturday at 2:05 CST against Illinois State in the farewell game at Roberts Stadium.  Next season, the Aces will play in the new $127 million downtown arena.

Wednesday's loss leaves Evansville in sixth place in the MVC, and virtually guarantees that UE will be the number six seed in next week's State Farm MVC Tournament at Scottrade Center in St. Louis even if the Aces tie Drake for sixth.  UE could also tie Creighton for fifth place, but the Bluejays would get the higher seed since they swept Evansville during the regular season.

Drake's lone senior, Ryan Wedel, celebrated Senior Night Wednesday by scoring 12 of his team's first 17 points to put the Bulldogs up 17-7.  The Aces cut the deficit below 10 just one more time, and eventually the Bulldogs went up by 25 early in the second half at 62-37.  Drake finished with 58 percent shooting, led by Wedel with 29 points.  Those are the most points scored by an opposing player against Evansville this season. Colt Ryan, the MVC's third leading scorer, led Evansville with 24 points.  Kenneth Harris had 11, and Denver Holmes 10.