The Drake University men's basketball team opens up Missouri Valley Conference action on New Year's Eve against Wichita State. Tipoff at Koch Arena is scheduled for 1 p.m. with the contest being broadcast on ESPNU. Thursday game marks the the second-straight season that the Bulldogs and Shockers have opened up Valley play on Dec. 31.
Drake enters the MVC portion of its schedule with a 5-7 non-conference record after defeating Abilene Christian, 87-70, in its final non-conference game. In that win, junior Kale Abrahamson scored 30 points on 9-of-14 shooting and a 5-of-9 night from the arc to earn his second MVC Newcomer of the Week honor.