DES MOINES — Bennett Stirtz scored 24 points as Drake beat Valparaiso 81-71 on Wednesday night.

Stirtz also contributed nine assists, five rebounds and three steals for the Bulldogs (17-2, 7-2 Missouri Valley Conference). Mitch Mascari shot 7 for 12, including 5 for 9 from beyond the arc to add 21 points. Daniel Abreu shot 2 of 2 from the field and 5 for 6 from the line to finish with 11 points.

The Beacons (10-10, 3-6) were led by Jefferson Monegro, who recorded 16 points. All Wright added 15 points for Valparaiso. Cooper Schwieger had 14 points and six rebounds.

Drake took the lead with 11:59 to go in the first half and led for the remainder. The score was 43-29 at halftime, with Stirtz racking up 12 points. Drake was outscored by Valparaiso in the second half by a four-point margin, but still wound up on top, while Stirtz led the way with a team-high 12 second-half points.

Drake 81, Valparaiso 71

VALPARAISO (10-10) — Co.Schwieger 5-7 4-4 14, Sepp 0-3 0-0 0, De La Cruz Monegro 4-10 7-7 16, Schmidt 3-5 0-0 7, Wright 5-8 3-4 15, McNair 3-8 4-4 10, DeAveiro 1-3 2-4 4, Shaw 2-2 0-0 4, Ellis 0-0 1-2 1, Coulibaly 0-1 0-0 0. TOTALS 23-47 21-25 71.

DRAKE (17-2) — Abreu 2-2 5-6 11, Manyawu 1-3 0-0 2, Jackson 2-4 0-0 4, Mascari 7-12 2-2 21, Stirtz 6-13 11-11 24, Banks 5-8 0-3 10, Combs 1-2 0-0 2, Howard 2-3 2-2 7. TOTALS 26-47 20-24 81.

Halftime–Drake 43-29. 3-Point Goals–Valparaiso 4-11 (Wright 2-2, De La Cruz Monegro 1-3, Schmidt 1-3, Sepp 0-1, McNair 0-2), Drake 9-16 (Mascari 5-9, Abreu 2-2, Howard 1-1, Stirtz 1-1, Banks 0-1, Combs 0-1, Jackson 0-1). Fouled Out–Co.Schwieger, De La Cruz Monegro, Abreu. Rebounds–Valparaiso 19 (Co.Schwieger 6), Drake 26 (Stirtz, Banks, Howard 5). Assists–Valparaiso 5 (Sepp 2), Drake 17 (Stirtz 9). Total Fouls–Valparaiso 18, Drake 18. A–3,367 (7,152).