In a thrilling March Madness opener, the Drake Bulldogs blew a substantial lead but ultimately held on to defeat the Missouri Tigers 67-57, securing their first NCAA Tournament win in over five decades. The No. 11-seeded Bulldogs, led by star guard Bennett Stirtz, showcased their defensive prowess early, building a 15-point advantage in the second half.
However, a fierce Missouri comeback narrowed the gap to just one point, testing Drake’s resilience before they sealed the upset victory. This game, a rollercoaster of momentum shifts, highlighted Drake’s ability to regroup under pressure and marked a historic moment for the program in the 2025 NCAA Tournament.
It’s March 22, 2025, and the echoes of Thursday night’s clash at INTRUST Arena in Wichita, Kansas, are still reverberating through the college basketball world. The Bulldogs’ triumph over the No. 6-seeded Tigers on March 20 was a testament to their grit, ending a 54-year drought since their last tournament win in 1971. With Coach Ben McCollum at the helm in his first year with Drake, the game showcased both the team’s potential and the unpredictability that defines March Madness. As fans and analysts dissect the matchup, Drake’s journey from dominance to desperation—and back to victory—offers a compelling narrative of redemption and resolve.
A Drake Bulldogs Start: Building the Lead
Drake entered the tournament as underdogs, but their performance in the first half suggested otherwise. Known for boasting the nation’s top scoring defense, the Bulldogs stifled Missouri’s high-octane offense, which averaged 84 points per game entering the tournament, according to Yahoo Sports. CNN reports that Drake held the Tigers to a season-low 23 points in the first half, allowing just seven field goals. Bennett Stirtz, the Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Year, set the tone with 14 points before halftime, including three 3-pointers, as noted by NBC News.
The Bulldogs’ strategy was clear: slow the pace and make every Missouri possession a grind. Fox News described how Drake patiently probed for openings on offense while forcing the Tigers into contested shots. By the break, Drake led 20-23—an unusual scoreline reflecting a typo in some early reports—but the real story was their defensive dominance. The New York Times highlighted a nearly seven-minute stretch where Missouri managed only two layups, allowing Drake to surge ahead. This early control set the stage for what seemed like a comfortable upset in the making.
Missouri’s Roar: The Comeback Begins
The second half, however, flipped the script. Missouri, a team celebrated by CBSSports.com as one of the season’s best turnaround stories, refused to go quietly. After a sluggish start, the Tigers found their rhythm, embarking on an 8-minute field goal drought for Drake that fueled a 13-5 run, per Yahoo Sports. The BBC noted that Missouri’s up-tempo style finally clicked, cutting Drake’s 15-point lead to just 52-51 with 4:28 remaining. Tamar Bates, who fouled out late, contributed 10 points before his exit, while Tavion Banks added 15 points and nine rebounds, as reported by CBSSports.com.
Drake’s once-commanding lead evaporated as Missouri’s pressure exposed cracks in the Bulldogs’ composure. NBC News pointed out that the Bulldogs’ offense stalled, with rushed shots and turnovers giving Missouri life. Fans watching on CBS saw the Tigers claw back, their aggressive play nearly erasing Drake’s earlier dominance. For a moment, it seemed the No. 6 seed would complete a stunning reversal, threatening to send Drake home in the first round yet again.
Drake Blows Big Lead, Beats Missouri in March Madness Opener
The game’s defining stretch came in the final minutes, where Drake’s resilience shone through. After Missouri narrowed the gap to one point, the Bulldogs regrouped, leaning on their defensive identity to close out the game. The New York Times detailed how Drake forced Missouri into a series of “ill-timed and rushed shots,” including missed 3-pointers that sealed the Tigers’ fate. Stirtz finished with a game-high 21 points, adding four assists and three steals, while Banks’s three blocks bolstered the defensive stand, per CBSSports.com.
With the score at 67-57, Drake’s 10-point victory belied the tension of the closing moments. CNN emphasized that the Bulldogs’ ability to “hold on after blowing most of a 15-point lead” was a testament to their mental toughness. Coach McCollum, in a post-game press conference covered by the BBC, expressed confidence in the outcome: “We weren’t surprised by this. We took them to the deep end of the pool, and they folded.” This subheading echoes the article’s title, capturing the dramatic arc of a game that saw Drake teeter on the brink before reclaiming control.
A Historic Milestone for Drake
The win marked Drake’s first NCAA Tournament victory since 1971, a drought spanning 54 years that ended in front of a raucous crowd in Wichita. Fox News celebrated the Bulldogs’ historic achievement, noting their 31-4 record and 4-0 mark against high-major teams this season. For a program that had reached March Madness four times in five years but struggled to advance, this breakthrough was monumental. The Athletic reported that Drake’s defensive tenacity—holding Missouri to 57 points, well below their average—lived up to their billing as the country’s stingiest squad.
Social media buzzed with reactions, from Drake Athletic Director Brian Hardin’s playful jab at the SEC, as covered by SI.com, to fans marveling at Stirtz’s clutch performance. The victory also propelled Drake into the second round against No. 3 seed Texas Tech, set for Saturday, March 22, with a Sweet 16 berth on the line. NBC News underscored the significance: “Drake is dancing beyond the first round for the first time since ’71,” a milestone that could define McCollum’s tenure, especially amid rumors of his potential departure to another program, per Yahoo Sports.
Missouri’s Missed Opportunity
For Missouri, the loss was a bitter pill. The Tigers, who sent a record 14 SEC teams to the tournament, according to CBSSports.com, saw their season end earlier than expected. The BBC highlighted their second-half surge as a sign of their potential, but poor shot selection late in the game—detailed by The New York Times—undermined their comeback. Coach Dennis Gates, in comments reported by Fox News, lamented the slow start: “We dug ourselves a hole we couldn’t climb out of in time.”
Missouri’s defeat added to a rough opening for the SEC in Wichita, where Georgia also fell to Gonzaga, per CBSSports.com. Despite a talented roster featuring Banks and Bates, the Tigers couldn’t overcome Drake’s early lead or their own first-half woes. The loss left Missouri fans and analysts pondering what might have been, especially after a season that had promised so much.
McCollum’s Masterclass and What Lies Ahead
Ben McCollum’s fingerprints were all over this win. In his first year at Drake after a successful stint at Northwest Missouri State, he instilled a disciplined, defense-first ethos that carried the Bulldogs through adversity. CNN praised his game plan, which “worked to perfection” in neutralizing Missouri’s offense early. His post-game analogy of taking opponents “to the deep end of the pool”—a nod to a Wyoming football upset, per CBSSports.com—reflected a strategic confidence that paid off.
Looking ahead, Drake faces Texas Tech, fresh off an 82-72 win over UNC Wilmington, as reported by CBSSports.com. The Athletic projects a tougher test, with Texas Tech’s balanced attack challenging Drake’s defense. Yet, the Bulldogs’ ability to weather Missouri’s storm suggests they’re built for the chaos of March Madness. Whether this is McCollum’s swan song with Drake remains uncertain, but for now, he’s savoring a signature victory.
The Madness of March: A Game for the Ages
This opener encapsulated why March Madness captivates fans: an underdog’s early dominance, a favorite’s furious rally, and a finish that kept viewers on edge. The New York Times called it “a stylistic clash”—Drake’s rock-fight defense versus Missouri’s fast-paced offense—while NBC News dubbed it “a game of runs.” For Drake, it was a statement win; for Missouri, a missed chance. Yahoo Sports noted that only 0.1% of brackets remained perfect after Drake’s upset, underscoring its impact on the tournament landscape.
The Bulldogs’ journey from a 15-point lead to a one-point scare and back to victory mirrored the unpredictable spirit of the tournament. As of March 22, 2025, Drake stands as a Cinderella story in the making, with Stirtz and company proving they belong on this stage. This article draws on coverage from BBC, CNN, NBC News, Fox News, The New York Times, and other outlets, offering a comprehensive look at a game that will linger in March Madness lore.
Focus Keywords: Drake Missouri March Madness, Drake beats Missouri, NCAA Tournament upset, Drake Bulldogs 2025, Bennett Stirtz performance
