BRAD

DRAKE

Stirtz, Banks lead Drake past Bradley 63-48 for third straight Missouri Valley championship

AP
Mar 09, 2025

ST. LOUIS (AP) Bennett Stirtz scored 24 points, Tavion Banks added 13 and top-seeded Drake Bulldogs defeated No. 2-seed Bradley Braves 63-48 on Sunday to win Arch Madness for the third consecutive time.

The Bulldogs (30-3) will be making their eighth NCAA Tournament appearance and fourth in the past five years. They won the Missouri Valley Conference regular-season championship for the first time since 2019.

A 3-pointer by Demarion Burch gave Bradley a 27-24 lead with four minutes left in the first half but the Braves did not score again until 15:20 remained in the second half. Drake finished the first half with a 7-0 run to lead 31-27 and the Bulldogs added the first six points of the second half.

Drake led 46-41 with seven minutes left in regulation then Bradley went cold again. The Bulldogs went on a 15-2 run capped by a dunk and a 3-pointer by Stirtz.

Bradley (26-8) went nearly 5 1/2 minutes without a made field goal before Darius Hannah scored in the paint to make it 61-47. Hannah's bucket turned out to be the Braves' only basket in seven attempts over the final 7:17.

Hannah led Bradley with 19 points that included 7-of-11 shooting. Bradley shot 52% in the first half and 28% in the second, finishing at 42% for the game.

Stirtz made 5 of 7 3-pointers and was 7 for 13 overall for Drake. Banks had a game-high nine rebounds. Drake hit on 46% from the field. --- Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here. AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

1st Half
BRAD
Braves
27
DRAKE
Bulldogs
31

Time		Play	Score
20:00		Darius Hannah vs. Daniel Abreu (Braves gains possession)
19:40	+2	Ahmet Jonovic makes two point layup (Duke Deen assists)	2-0
19:07	+2	Cam Manyawu makes two point layup (Bennett Stirtz assists)	2-2
18:47	+2	Darius Hannah makes two point layup	4-2
18:23		Bennett Stirtz misses two point jump shot
18:21		Cam Manyawu offensive rebound
18:13		Bennett Stirtz turnover (Darius Hannah steals)
17:59		Zek Montgomery turnover (bad pass) (Isaiah Jackson steals)
17:41		Cam Manyawu misses two point layup
17:39		Darius Hannah defensive rebound
17:18	+2	Duke Deen makes two point layup (Ahmet Jonovic assists)	6-2
17:01		Daniel Abreu misses two point jump shot
16:59		Daniel Abreu offensive rebound
16:57		Ahmet Jonovic shooting foul (Daniel Abreu draws the foul)
16:57	+1	Daniel Abreu makes regular free throw 1 of 2	6-3
16:57	+1	Daniel Abreu makes regular free throw 2 of 2	6-4
16:38	+2	Darius Hannah makes two point layup (Duke Deen assists)	8-4
16:12	+2	Tavion Banks makes two point layup (Isaiah Jackson assists)	8-6
15:57		Mitch Mascari personal foul
15:57		TV timeout
15:43	+2	Darius Hannah makes two point dunk	10-6
15:23		Almar Atlason shooting foul (Tavion Banks draws the foul)
15:23	+1	Tavion Banks makes regular free throw 1 of 2	10-7
15:23		Tavion Banks misses regular free throw 2 of 2
15:23		Zek Montgomery defensive rebound
14:58		Jaquan Johnson turnover (traveling)
14:42	+3	Bennett Stirtz makes three point jump shot	10-10
14:29		Duke Deen turnover (Daniel Abreu steals)
14:22	+2	Tavion Banks makes two point dunk (Bennett Stirtz assists)	10-12
13:59	+2	Zek Montgomery makes two point layup (Jaquan Johnson assists)	12-12
13:37		Isaia Howard turnover (traveling)
13:25		Christian Davis misses three point jump shot
13:23		Isaia Howard defensive rebound
13:16		Isaia Howard turnover
13:01		Daniel Abreu personal foul
12:41		Daniel Abreu blocks Zek Montgomery's two point layup
12:39		Daniel Abreu defensive rebound
12:29		Daniel Abreu misses three point jump shot
12:27		Demarion Burch defensive rebound
12:00		Zek Montgomery misses two point jump shot
11:58		Bennett Stirtz defensive rebound
11:44	+3	Bennett Stirtz makes three point jump shot	12-15
11:29		Jump ball. Jaquan Johnson vs. Tavion Banks (Bulldogs gains possession)
11:29		Jaquan Johnson turnover (lost ball) (Tavion Banks steals)
11:29		TV timeout
11:14		Cam Manyawu misses two point layup
11:12		Zek Montgomery defensive rebound
11:01	+2	Zek Montgomery makes two point jump shot	14-15
10:32		Kael Combs misses three point jump shot
10:30		Duke Deen defensive rebound
10:16		Daniel Abreu blocks Ahmet Jonovic's two point layup
10:14		Bennett Stirtz defensive rebound
10:04		Cam Manyawu turnover (bad pass) (Darius Hannah steals)
9:51	+2	Christian Davis makes two point dunk (Duke Deen assists)	16-15
9:28		Daniel Abreu misses three point jump shot
9:26		Zek Montgomery defensive rebound
9:08	+2	Darius Hannah makes two point layup (Duke Deen assists)	18-15
9:08		Daniel Abreu shooting foul (Darius Hannah draws the foul)
9:08	+1	Darius Hannah makes regular free throw 1 of 1	19-15
8:37		Bulldogs turnover (shot clock violation)
8:37		Bulldogs 30 second timeout
8:22		Zek Montgomery turnover (Isaia Howard steals)
8:13	+2	Bennett Stirtz makes two point dunk	19-17
8:05		Corey Thomas misses three point jump shot
8:03		Isaia Howard defensive rebound
8:02		Christian Davis personal foul
7:37	+3	Bennett Stirtz makes three point jump shot	19-20
7:22		Corey Thomas turnover (Mitch Mascari steals)
7:07		Bennett Stirtz misses two point jump shot
7:05		Almar Atlason defensive rebound
7:02		Jump ball. Almar Atlason vs. Bennett Stirtz (Braves gains possession)
7:02		TV timeout
6:44		Darius Hannah turnover (Bennett Stirtz steals)
6:32	+2	Cam Manyawu makes two point layup (Bennett Stirtz assists)	19-22
6:18	+3	Christian Davis makes three point jump shot (Jaquan Johnson assists)	22-22
5:53		Tavion Banks turnover (Jaquan Johnson steals)
5:45		Duke Deen misses three point jump shot
5:43		Cam Manyawu defensive rebound
5:18		Bennett Stirtz misses three point jump shot
5:16		Jaquan Johnson defensive rebound
5:04	+2	Demarion Burch makes two point jump shot	24-22
4:44	+2	Mitch Mascari makes two point jump shot	24-24
4:12		Darius Hannah misses two point jump shot
4:10		Ahmet Jonovic offensive rebound
4:00	+3	Demarion Burch makes three point jump shot (Jaquan Johnson assists)	27-24
3:32		Cam Manyawu misses two point jump shot
3:30		Ahmet Jonovic defensive rebound
3:16		TV timeout
2:57		Darius Hannah misses three point jump shot
2:55		Bennett Stirtz defensive rebound
2:42	+2	Kael Combs makes two point jump shot	27-26
2:19		Darius Hannah misses two point jump shot
2:17		Bennett Stirtz defensive rebound
2:04		Kael Combs misses two point layup
2:02		Ahmet Jonovic defensive rebound
1:33		Tavion Banks blocks Jaquan Johnson's three point jump shot
1:31		Mitch Mascari defensive rebound
1:31		Christian Davis shooting foul (Bennett Stirtz draws the foul)
1:15	+1	Bennett Stirtz makes regular free throw 1 of 2	27-27
1:15		Bennett Stirtz misses regular free throw 2 of 2
1:15		Tavion Banks offensive rebound
1:12	+2	Tavion Banks makes two point layup	27-29
0:56		Zek Montgomery turnover (Mitch Mascari steals)
0:31		Mitch Mascari turnover (Jaquan Johnson steals)
0:20		Braves 30 second timeout
0:05		Bennett Stirtz blocks Duke Deen's three point jump shot
0:03		Tavion Banks defensive rebound
0:01	+2	Isaiah Jackson makes two point layup (Tavion Banks assists)	27-31
0:00		End of period

2nd Half
BRAD
Braves
21
DRAKE
Bulldogs
32

Time		Play	Score
19:49		Mitch Mascari misses three point jump shot
19:47		Braves defensive rebound
19:34		Zek Montgomery misses three point jump shot
19:32		Daniel Abreu defensive rebound
19:03		Daniel Abreu misses two point jump shot
19:01		Cam Manyawu offensive rebound
18:53	+2	Daniel Abreu makes two point layup (Cam Manyawu assists)	27-33
18:29		Daniel Abreu personal foul (Darius Hannah draws the foul)
18:20		Cam Manyawu personal foul (Duke Deen draws the foul)
18:00		Jaquan Johnson misses three point jump shot
17:58		Bulldogs defensive rebound
17:40	+2	Cam Manyawu makes two point dunk (Isaiah Jackson assists)	27-35
17:31		Braves 30 second timeout
17:31		TV timeout
17:18		Cam Manyawu personal foul (Darius Hannah draws the foul)
17:10		Bennett Stirtz blocks Christian Davis's three point jump shot
17:08		Braves offensive rebound
17:02		Cam Manyawu blocks Jaquan Johnson's two point layup
17:00		Mitch Mascari defensive rebound
16:45		Darius Hannah blocks Cam Manyawu's two point jump shot
16:43		Darius Hannah defensive rebound
16:17		Zek Montgomery misses two point turnaround jump shot
16:15		Mitch Mascari defensive rebound
15:53	+2	Cam Manyawu makes two point layup (Tavion Banks assists)	27-37
15:19	+2	Darius Hannah makes two point layup (Corey Thomas assists)	29-37
15:02		TV timeout
14:47		Demarion Burch personal foul (Cam Manyawu draws the foul)
14:36		Demarion Burch shooting foul (Daniel Abreu draws the foul)
14:36		Daniel Abreu misses regular free throw 1 of 2
14:36		Daniel Abreu misses regular free throw 2 of 2
14:36		Tavion Banks offensive rebound
14:31		Bulldogs 30 second timeout
14:13		Bennett Stirtz misses two point jump shot
14:11		Kael Combs offensive rebound
14:00		Darius Hannah blocks Tavion Banks's two point layup
13:58		Kael Combs offensive rebound
13:54		Official timeout
13:41		Bennett Stirtz misses three point jump shot
13:40		Braves defensive rebound
13:40		Tavion Banks personal foul
13:16		Demarion Burch turnover (bad pass) (Mitch Mascari steals)
12:51		Mitch Mascari misses three point jump shot
12:49		Duke Deen defensive rebound
12:37		Demarion Burch misses three point jump shot
12:35		Braves offensive rebound
12:35		Kael Combs personal foul (Duke Deen draws the foul)
12:17		Zek Montgomery misses two point jump shot
12:15		Tavion Banks defensive rebound
11:46		Duke Deen shooting foul (Bennett Stirtz draws the foul)
11:46		TV timeout
11:46	+1	Bennett Stirtz makes regular free throw 1 of 2	29-38
11:46	+1	Bennett Stirtz makes regular free throw 2 of 2	29-39
11:19		Daniel Abreu shooting foul (Darius Hannah draws the foul)
11:19	+1	Darius Hannah makes regular free throw 1 of 2	30-39
11:19	+1	Darius Hannah makes regular free throw 2 of 2	31-39
10:52	+3	Isaiah Jackson makes three point jump shot (Mitch Mascari assists)	31-42
10:25	+3	Duke Deen makes three point jump shot (Darius Hannah assists)	34-42
9:51		Mitch Mascari misses three point jump shot
9:49		Bulldogs offensive rebound
9:39		Kael Combs misses two point jump shot
9:37		Jaquan Johnson defensive rebound
9:32		Bennett Stirtz shooting foul (Jaquan Johnson draws the foul)
9:32		Jaquan Johnson misses regular free throw 1 of 2
9:32	+1	Jaquan Johnson makes regular free throw 2 of 2	35-42
9:04	+2	Tavion Banks makes two point hook shot	35-44
8:34	+3	Darius Hannah makes three point jump shot (Jaquan Johnson assists)	38-44
7:59		Mitch Mascari misses two point floating jump shot
7:57		Tavion Banks offensive rebound
7:51		Tavion Banks misses two point tip layup
7:49		Tavion Banks offensive rebound
7:40		Darius Hannah shooting foul (Bennett Stirtz draws the foul)
7:40		TV timeout
7:40	+1	Bennett Stirtz makes regular free throw 1 of 2	38-45
7:40	+1	Bennett Stirtz makes regular free throw 2 of 2	38-46
7:16	+3	Duke Deen makes three point jump shot (Zek Montgomery assists)	41-46
6:47		Jump ball. Kael Combs vs. Christian Davis (Bulldogs gains possession)
6:45	+2	Tavion Banks makes two point jump shot (Bennett Stirtz assists)	41-48
6:21		Cam Manyawu shooting foul (Darius Hannah draws the foul)
6:21		Official timeout
6:21		Duke Deen technical foul
6:21		Darius Hannah misses regular free throw 1 of 2
6:21		Darius Hannah misses regular free throw 2 of 2
6:21		Bulldogs defensive rebound
6:21		Duke Deen technical foul
6:21	+1	Mitch Mascari makes technical free throw 1 of 2	41-49
6:21	+1	Mitch Mascari makes technical free throw 2 of 2	41-50
5:52	+3	Bennett Stirtz makes three point pullup jump shot	41-53
5:24		Christian Davis misses three point jump shot
5:22		Tavion Banks defensive rebound
4:55		Mitch Mascari misses three point jump shot
4:53		Kael Combs offensive rebound
4:45		Darius Hannah shooting foul (Tavion Banks draws the foul)
4:45	+1	Tavion Banks makes regular free throw 1 of 2	41-54
4:45	+1	Tavion Banks makes regular free throw 2 of 2	41-55
4:27		Mitch Mascari shooting foul (Christian Davis draws the foul)
4:27	+1	Christian Davis makes regular free throw 1 of 2	42-55
4:27	+1	Christian Davis makes regular free throw 2 of 2	43-55
4:01		Darius Hannah flagrant 1 (Cam Manyawu draws the foul)
4:01	+1	Cam Manyawu makes flagrant free throw 1 of 2	43-56
4:01		Cam Manyawu misses flagrant free throw 2 of 2
4:01		Bulldogs offensive rebound
3:41		Bennett Stirtz misses two point jump shot
3:40		Bulldogs offensive rebound
3:40		Bulldogs turnover (shot clock violation)
3:40		TV timeout
3:25		Christian Davis turnover (lost ball) (Mitch Mascari steals)
3:20	+2	Bennett Stirtz makes two point dunk (Mitch Mascari assists)	43-58
3:08		Duke Deen misses three point jump shot
3:06		Cam Manyawu defensive rebound
2:41	+3	Bennett Stirtz makes three point stepback jump shot	43-61
2:29		Tavion Banks shooting foul (Jaquan Johnson draws the foul)
2:29	+1	Jaquan Johnson makes regular free throw 1 of 2	44-61
2:29	+1	Jaquan Johnson makes regular free throw 2 of 2	45-61
2:15		Christian Davis personal foul (Cam Manyawu draws the foul)
2:15		Cam Manyawu misses regular free throw 1 of 1
2:14		Braves defensive rebound
2:01	+2	Darius Hannah makes two point alley-oop layup (Duke Deen assists)	47-61
1:54		Duke Deen personal foul (Mitch Mascari draws the foul)
1:54	+1	Mitch Mascari makes regular free throw 1 of 2	47-62
1:54	+1	Mitch Mascari makes regular free throw 2 of 2	47-63
1:41		Christian Davis misses three point jump shot
1:38		Bulldogs defensive rebound
1:25		Jaquan Johnson personal foul (Isaiah Jackson draws the foul)
1:25		Isaiah Jackson misses regular free throw 1 of 2
1:25		Isaiah Jackson misses regular free throw 2 of 2
1:25		Braves defensive rebound
1:25		Tavion Banks personal foul (Darius Hannah draws the foul)
1:25	+1	Darius Hannah makes regular free throw 1 of 2	48-63
1:25		Darius Hannah misses regular free throw 2 of 2
1:25		Kael Combs defensive rebound
0:55		Kael Combs misses two point jump shot
0:53		Christian Davis defensive rebound
0:49		Zek Montgomery misses three point jump shot
0:47		Christian Davis offensive rebound
0:42		Darius Hannah misses two point jump shot
0:40		Tavion Banks defensive rebound
0:27		Bulldogs 30 second timeout
0:10		Bulldogs turnover (shot clock violation)
0:03		Sam Hennessy misses three point jump shot
0:01		Tavion Banks defensive rebound
0:00		End of period

Tavion Banks defensive rebound