DES MOINES, Iowa–Junior Ben Simons scored a game-high 24 points and sophomore Rayvonte Rice added 19, all in the second half, to propel the Drake Bulldogs to a 70-64 win over North Dakota Wednesday in the first round of the CollgeInsider.com Postseason Tournament (CIT) at the Knapp Center. It was Drake’s first win in a postseason tournament beyond a conference tournament since 1975, and improved the Bulldogs’ record to 18-15. It is the highest win total for Drake under head coach Mark Phelps, and best since the 2007-08 team won 28 games. Drake will now play at Rice in the second round of the CIT on Saturday, March 17, at 7 p.m. (CT).

(Courtesy Drake Athletics)