Drake Bulldogs Edge Evansville Purple Aces in Close Contest
Wednesday, January 28, 2026, 7:30 PM ET · Knapp Center
Drake Bulldogs 82, Evansville Purple Aces 78, 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 Evansville Purple Aces vs Drake Bulldogs?
Drake Bulldogs beat Evansville Purple Aces 82-78 at Knapp Center on January 28, 2026.
Who was favored in Evansville Purple Aces vs Drake Bulldogs?
Drake Bulldogs were the favorite at DraftKings, moneyline -470 (about 82% implied). The favorite won.
In a thrilling encounter at the Knapp Center, the Drake Bulldogs narrowly defeated the Evansville Purple Aces with a final score of 82-78. This victory marks Drake's continued dominance over Evansville, extending their head-to-head record to 4-0 in recent meetings. The Bulldogs have proven to be a challenging opponent for the Purple Aces, having won all their previous matchups this season, including a close 66-65 victory earlier in December 2025.
Drake's recent form has shown signs of improvement, with a record of 5-5 over their last ten games. They are currently on a two-game winning streak, having scored an average of 73.0 points while allowing 76.1 points per game during this stretch. Their last two games included a convincing 76-62 win against Indiana State and a high-scoring 101-90 victory over Murray State. At home, Drake has a record of 2-2 in their last four games, while their overall home record stands at 12-10.
In contrast, the Evansville Purple Aces have struggled significantly this season, holding a record of just 5-16. Their recent performance has been disappointing, with a record of 1-8-1 in their last ten games, averaging only 58.6 points scored and 67.8 points allowed. Their last game ended in a draw against Southern Illinois, but prior to that, they suffered a heavy 49-76 defeat against UIC. Evansville's away record is particularly troubling, as they have managed only one win in their last four away games.
The betting market reflected the anticipated outcome, with DraftKings listing Drake as 8.5-point favorites. The total points line was set at 143.5, with odds of -105 for the over and -115 for the under. The moneyline odds indicated a strong belief in a Drake victory, priced at -470 for the Bulldogs and +360 for the Purple Aces.
In terms of player performance, Jalen Quinn was a standout for Drake, contributing crucial points down the stretch, including multiple free throws that solidified their lead. The game featured several pivotal moments, with Quinn's scoring plays being instrumental in maintaining Drake's advantage as they fought to hold off a late surge from Evansville.
The conditions at the Knapp Center were favorable for basketball, providing a competitive atmosphere for both teams. As the game progressed, viewers witnessed a back-and-forth battle, with both teams exchanging leads and momentum shifts, particularly in the second half.
Overall, this game highlighted the resilience of the Drake Bulldogs as they continue to build on their successful season, while the Evansville Purple Aces will need to regroup and find a way to turn their fortunes around as they head deeper into the season.
Odds
| Book | Spread | Total | Moneyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | DRKE -8.5 | 143.5 o -105 / u -115 | Evansville Purple Aces +360 · Drake Bulldogs -470 |
Leaders
- PointsJalen Quinn26Drake Bulldogs
- AssistsJalen Quinn5Drake Bulldogs
- ReboundsAndrew Alia9Drake Bulldogs
- PointsLeif Moeller20Evansville Purple Aces
- AssistsLeif Moeller7Evansville Purple Aces
- ReboundsLeif Moeller7Evansville Purple Aces
Recent form
Drake Bulldogs
Last 10: 5-5Streak W273 scored · 76.1 allowed per game2-2 at home
- W76-62at Indiana State SycamoresJan 24
- W101-90vs Murray State RacersJan 22
- L67-74at UIC FlamesJan 17
- W76-73at Southern Illinois SalukisJan 15
- L76-78vs Belmont BruinsJan 10
- L66-93at Bradley BravesJan 8
- W74-72vs Indiana State SycamoresJan 4
- L56-73vs Illinois State RedbirdsDec 30
- W66-65at Evansville Purple AcesDec 21
- L72-81at Murray State RacersDec 19
Evansville Purple Aces
Last 10: 1-8-1Streak D158.6 scored · 67.8 allowed per game1-3 away
- D0-0vs Southern Illinois SalukisJan 25
- L49-76at UIC FlamesJan 21
- L90-94vs Bradley BravesJan 14
- W72-69at Indiana State SycamoresJan 10
- L69-79vs Murray State RacersJan 8
- L48-62vs Northern Iowa PanthersJan 4
- L47-73at Illinois State RedbirdsJan 1
- L68-76at Bradley BravesDec 30
- L65-66vs Drake BulldogsDec 21
- L78-83vs Belmont BruinsDec 17
Standings
| Team | Overall | Games behind | In conference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Belmont | 26-6 | - | 16-4 |
| Bradley | 21-13 | 3 | 13-7 |
| Illinois State | 23-13 | 4 | 12-8 |
| Murray State | 20-13 | 4 | 12-8 |
| UIC | 19-16 | 4 | 12-8 |
| Northern Iowa | 23-13 | 5 | 11-9 |
| Valparaiso | 18-15 | 5 | 11-9 |
| Southern Illinois | 16-16 | 6 | 10-10 |
| Drake | 14-20 | 10 | 6-14 |
| Indiana State | 11-21 | 12 | 4-16 |
| Evansville | 7-25 | 13 | 3-17 |
Box score
| Stat | Evansville Purple Aces | Drake Bulldogs |
|---|---|---|
| Field goals | 30-55 | 22-51 |
| Field goal % | 55 | 43 |
| Three-pointers | 11-22 | 10-32 |
| Three-point % | 50 | 31 |
| Free throws | 7-12 | 28-38 |
| Free throw % | 58 | 74 |
| Rebounds | 28 | 32 |
| Offensive rebounds | 5 | 9 |
| Defensive rebounds | 23 | 23 |
| Assists | 17 | 12 |
| Steals | 5 | 7 |
| Blocks | 2 | 3 |
| Turnovers | 11 | 7 |
| Team turnovers | 1 | 0 |
| Technical fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Technical fouls, total | 0 | 0 |
| Flagrant fouls | 0 | 0 |
| Points off turnovers | 11 | 15 |
| Fast-break points | 7 | 18 |
| Points in the paint | 28 | 24 |
| Fouls | 25 | 14 |
| Largest lead | 19 | 4 |
| Lead changes | 4 | 4 |
| Time in front | 88 | 6 |
How the scoring went
- 2nd Half59-43Owen Larson makes 24-foot three point jumper (Jalen Quinn assists)
- 2nd Half61-43AJ Casey makes 12-foot step back jumpshot
- 2nd Half61-45Owen Larson makes layup
- 2nd Half61-47Jalen Quinn makes 7-foot pullup jump shot
- 2nd Half63-47AJ Casey makes 4-foot dunk (Joshua Hughes assists)
- 2nd Half63-50Jalen Quinn makes 24-foot three point jumper (Owen Larson assists)
- 2nd Half63-51Andrew Alia makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half63-52Andrew Alia makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half63-53Andrew Alia makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half63-54Andrew Alia makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half65-54AJ Casey makes layup (Leif Moeller assists)
- 2nd Half65-55Andrew Alia makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half65-56Andrew Alia makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half65-59Eli Shetlar makes 25-foot three point jumper (Andrew Alia assists)
- 2nd Half65-60Eli Shetlar makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half65-62Jalen Quinn makes 12-foot jumper
- 2nd Half67-62Bryce Quinet makes layup
- 2nd Half69-62Connor Turnbull makes 3-foot alley oop dunk (Leif Moeller assists)
- 2nd Half69-63Isaiah Carr makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half70-63Leif Moeller makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half70-64Jalen Quinn makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half70-66Okku Federiko makes driving layup
- 2nd Half71-66Bryce Quinet makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half72-66Bryce Quinet makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half72-67Andrew Alia makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half72-68Andrew Alia makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half72-71Andrew Alia makes 23-foot three point jumper (Jalen Quinn assists)
- 2nd Half73-71Connor Turnbull makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half73-73Jalen Quinn makes 8-foot jumper
- 2nd Half73-74Jalen Quinn makes free throw 1 of 1
- 2nd Half73-75Jalen Quinn makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half73-76Jalen Quinn makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half74-76Bryce Quinet makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half75-76Bryce Quinet makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half75-78Jalen Quinn makes 9-foot jumper
- 2nd Half75-79Jaehshon Thomas makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half78-79AJ Casey makes 26-foot three point jumper
- 2nd Half78-80Jalen Quinn makes free throw 2 of 2
- 2nd Half78-81Jalen Quinn makes free throw 1 of 2
- 2nd Half78-82Jalen Quinn makes free throw 2 of 2
Win probability
Above the line favours Drake Bulldogs, below favours Evansville Purple Aces.
Venue
- Knapp CenterDes Moines, IA
- Attendance3441
- OfficialsEric Curry, Chance Moore, Tommy Johnson
Elsewhere
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- Michigan 5-star freshman Brandon McCoy Jr. (knee) to miss season
- With $6.5 million left on deal, UCLA fires AD Martin Jarmond