After defeating Southern Illinois University (SIU) in the semifinals of the Arch Madness tournament, Garrett Sturtz held up one finger to the fans. One more win was all they needed to be crowned champions of the Missouri Valley Conference (MVC). The Bulldogs completed this mission and crushed the Bradley Braves 77-51 in the championship, bringing home the first Drake men’s basketball MVC championship since 2008.
Winning Arch Madness punched Drake’s ticket to the March Madness tournament, in which the national champion of NCAA Division one college basketball is decided. Drake also secured victories against Murray State and SIU en route to the championship.