Drake Bulldogs Dominate Central College Dutch in Season Opener
Wednesday, November 4, 2026, 7:30 PM ET · Knapp Center
Drake Bulldogs 101, Central College Dutch 48, final. Our NCAAB picks are sealed as a hash before kickoff and settled in public, losses included.
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Quick answers
Who won Central College Dutch vs Drake Bulldogs?
Drake Bulldogs beat Central College Dutch 101-48 at Knapp Center on November 4, 2026.
In a commanding performance, the Drake Bulldogs triumphed over the Central College Dutch with a final score of 101 to 48 in their season opener at the Knapp Center. This victory marks a promising start for the Bulldogs, who have struggled in recent outings but showcased their potential with a decisive win against the Dutch.
Despite their struggles, they averaged 68.7 points scored per game while allowing 76.2 points, indicating a need for improvement on the defensive end. Their last five games reflected a slight uptick in performance, with an average of 68.4 points scored and 72.6 points allowed.
In contrast, Central College faced a tough challenge, coming into this game without a recent record to reference, but they were clearly outmatched by the Bulldogs. The Dutch were unable to find their rhythm, and their scoring output was significantly overshadowed by Drake's offensive prowess.
The Bulldogs' performance at home has been a mixed bag in the past, but they managed to capitalize on their home court advantage in this matchup. They have struggled in previous seasons, with a home record of 0-4 in their last ten games before this win, but the energy in the Knapp Center seemed to fuel their performance against Central College.
In terms of previous meetings, the block does not provide details on past encounters between the Bulldogs and the Dutch, suggesting that this was a significant matchup for both teams as they opened their seasons. The absence of historical context makes this victory even more notable, as it sets a tone for Drake's campaign moving forward.
The injury report was not specified in the block, leaving questions about player availability and potential impacts on both teams. However, the Bulldogs' ability to execute their game plan effectively suggests they were operating at full strength.
Betting lines for this game, as provided by the market, indicated a high probability of a home win for the Bulldogs, with a home win probability of 1.0. This reflects the expectations surrounding the matchup and the confidence in Drake's ability to perform at home.
Conditions during the game appeared favorable for both teams, allowing for an uninterrupted flow of play. The Bulldogs took advantage of this, demonstrating strong offensive execution and defensive tenacity throughout the game.
Viewers should have noted the impressive scoring from Drake, particularly in the second half, where they continued to extend their lead. Key moments included driving layups from players like LJ Rush and Ross Kusel, showcasing the Bulldogs' ability to penetrate the defense effectively. The final moments of the game saw additional free throws from Derek Thissen, further solidifying the Bulldogs' dominance.
Overall, this matchup served as a clear statement from the Drake Bulldogs as they look to build momentum for the remainder of the season. Their ability to score efficiently while limiting their opponents' chances will be critical as they aim to improve upon their recent form.
What we said beforehand
The Drake Bulldogs will face the Central College Dutch in their season opener at the Knapp Center on November 5, 2026. This matchup is particularly intriguing as it marks the beginning of a new season for both teams, with the Bulldogs looking to improve upon their recent form while the Dutch are yet to play this season.
The Bulldogs come into this game with a recent record of 2-3 in their last five games. Their last outing was a loss to the UIC Flames, where they fell short with a score of 72-51. Prior to that, they managed to secure victories against the Southern Illinois Salukis and the Belmont Bruins, with scores of 67-63 and 100-79, respectively. However, they also suffered defeats against the Northern Iowa Panthers and the Valparaiso Beacons, losing 75-53 and 74-71. Overall, their recent form shows that they have struggled defensively, allowing an average of 76.2 points per game at home while scoring an average of 68.7 points.
In terms of home performance, the Bulldogs have a record of 0-4 in their last ten home games, with their last home victory coming earlier in the season. This will be their first home game of the new season, and they will be eager to turn their fortunes around. Their overall average scoring at home is 68.4 points, while they have allowed 72.6 points in their last five home games.
On the other hand, the Central College Dutch have not played any games this season, making it difficult to gauge their current form. Their previous season's performance will be crucial in determining how they approach this matchup. Without any recent results to analyze, the Dutch will be looking to make a strong impression in their first game of the season.
In terms of the betting market, the odds for this matchup have not been specified in the provided information. As the game approaches, it will be interesting to see how the odds shift based on team news and public sentiment.
The conditions for the game will be held at the Knapp Center, which is expected to provide a home-court advantage for the Bulldogs. Fans will be watching closely to see how the Bulldogs adapt to their home environment after a tough stretch in the previous season.
In summary, this matchup between the Drake Bulldogs and the Central College Dutch presents an opportunity for the Bulldogs to start their season on a positive note, while the Dutch will be looking to make a statement in their opener. The game promises to be an engaging contest as both teams look to establish their presence early in the season.
Leaders
- PointsJon Carroll20Drake Bulldogs
- AssistsOwen Larson5Drake Bulldogs
- ReboundsJustin Burns8Drake Bulldogs
- PointsAnthony Gott8Central College Dutch
- AssistsCarson Jones2Central College Dutch
- ReboundsBoaz Clark4Central College Dutch
Recent form
Drake Bulldogs
Last 10: 2-8Streak L168.7 scored · 76.2 allowed per game0-4 at home
- L51-72at UIC FlamesMar 7
- W100-79at Belmont BruinsMar 6
- W67-63at Southern Illinois SalukisMar 5
- L53-75vs Northern Iowa PanthersMar 1
- L71-74at Valparaiso BeaconsFeb 26
- L61-66vs Southern Illinois SalukisFeb 19
- L62-86at Northern Iowa PanthersFeb 15
- L70-80vs UIC FlamesFeb 13
- L76-81vs Valparaiso BeaconsFeb 10
- L76-86at Illinois State RedbirdsFeb 7
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belmont | 1-0 | - | 0-0 |
| Bradley | 1-0 | - | 0-0 |
| Drake | 1-0 | - | 0-0 |
| Evansville | 1-0 | - | 0-0 |
| Murray State | 1-0 | - | 0-0 |
| Northern Iowa | 1-0 | - | 0-0 |
| Southern Illinois | 1-0 | - | 0-0 |
| UIC | 1-0 | - | 0-0 |
| Valparaiso | 1-0 | - | 0-0 |
| Illinois State | 0-1 | - | 0-0 |
| Indiana State | 0-1 | - | 0-0 |
Box score
| Stat | Central College Dutch | Drake Bulldogs |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 15-50 | 39-72 |
| Field goal % | 30 | 54 |
| Three-pointers | 7-32 | 9-26 |
| Three-point % | 22 | 35 |
| Free throws | 11-14 | 14-26 |
| Free throw % | 79 | 54 |
| Rebounds | 27 | 51 |
| Offensive rebounds | 9 | 22 |
| Defensive rebounds | 18 | 29 |
| Assists | 11 | 24 |
| Steals | 9 | 18 |
| Blocks | 1 | 4 |
| Turnovers | 24 | 11 |
| Team turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 3 | 43 |
| Fast-break points | 2 | 24 |
| Points in the paint | 16 | 58 |
| Fouls | 21 | 17 |
| Largest lead | 0 | 58 |
| Lead changes | 0 | 0 |
| Time in front | 0 | 99 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half25-59Justin Burns makes driving layup
- 2nd Half25-61Dothan Ijadimbola makes layup (Dre Kindell assists)
- 2nd Half25-62Griffen Goodbary makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half25-65Eli Shetlar makes 26-foot three point jumper (Dre Kindell assists)
- 2nd Half27-65Anthony Gott makes 8-foot turnaround jump shot
- 2nd Half30-65Braylon Thomsen makes 23-foot three point jumper (Carson Jones assists)
- 2nd Half30-67Dothan Ijadimbola makes 4-foot dunk (Eli Shetlar assists)
- 2nd Half30-70Owen Larson makes 24-foot three point jumper (Eli Shetlar assists)
- 2nd Half30-72Dothan Ijadimbola makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half33-72Boaz Clark makes 24-foot three point jumper (Ryker Sanders assists)
- 2nd Half33-74Jon Carroll makes 4-foot hook shot
- 2nd Half34-74Gilbert Flagel makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half34-76Bryson Bahl makes layup (Dre Kindell assists)
- 2nd Half34-78Justin Burns makes 0-foot tip in layup
- 2nd Half34-80Justin Burns makes layup
- 2nd Half34-82Griffen Goodbary makes 3-foot alley oop dunk (Andrew Alia assists)
- 2nd Half34-84Justin Burns makes 4-foot dunk
- 2nd Half34-86Dothan Ijadimbola makes layup
- 2nd Half34-88Griffen Goodbary makes layup
- 2nd Half37-88Ross Kusel makes 23-foot three point jumper (James Wilson assists)
- 2nd Half37-89LJ Rush makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half37-90LJ Rush makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half38-90Logan McDole makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half39-90Logan McDole makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half39-91LJ Rush makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half39-92LJ Rush makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half39-93LJ Rush makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half39-94Bryson Bahl makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half39-95Bryson Bahl makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half39-97Mason Matulis makes layup (Dothan Ijadimbola assists)
- 2nd Half40-97Sam Cooper makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half41-97Sam Cooper makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half41-99LJ Rush makes driving layup
- 2nd Half43-99Ross Kusel makes driving layup
- 2nd Half43-100Dothan Ijadimbola makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half44-100Derek Thissen makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half45-100Derek Thissen makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half46-100Derek Thissen makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half46-101LJ Rush makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half48-101Grayson Shoemaker makes driving layup (Henry Stremlow assists)
Win probability
Above the line favours Drake Bulldogs, below favours Central College Dutch.
Venue
- Knapp CenterDes Moines, IA
- Attendance3081
- OfficialsRoland Simmons, Chance Wallesen, Ed Crenshaw Jr.
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