Bennett Stirtz scored 29 points and Drake held off a second half rally to win at Valparaiso 66-60 in their Missouri Valley Conference opener. Drake is now 8-0.

The Bulldogs led by 14 early in the second half but had to hold on after the offense sputtered down the stretch.

That’s Drake coach Benn McCollum who says the Bulldogs won with defense and rebounding and they need to get better on offense.