DES MOINES, Iowa -- Egidijus Mockevicius scored 21 points and grabbed 13 rebounds as Evansville narrowly edged Drake 80-74 on Wednesday night.

D.J. Balentine added 26 points and seven assists for the Purple Aces (21-7, 10-5 Missouri Valley). Blake Simmons had 11 points and five assists.

Mockevicius scored 10 points as part of a 16-6 run to open the second half, extending Evansville's four-point halftime lead to 52-38 with 13:49 to play. But Drake -- in last place in the MVC -- wasn't finished. Nick McGlynn scored 11 points and grabbed six rebounds in the game's final 10 minutes and sparked a 28-17 surge that brought the Bulldogs (6-21, 1-14) to within five, 75-70, with 1:03 remaining. But the Purple Aces were able to hang on as Balentine, Jaylon Brown and Adam Wing made five free throws in the final minute to preserve the lead.

Reed Timmer added 16 points for the Bulldogs. Graham Woodward had 14.