ST. LOUIS — Joseph Yesufu knifed down the lane, splitting two defenders, and kissed the winning basket off the glass with 2.5 seconds remaining as Drake defeated Missouri State 71-69 in the semifinals of the Missouri Valley Conference tournament.
Yesufu scored 25 points, Tremell Murphy added 20 more for the second-seeded Bulldogs.
Drake advanced to Sunday’s tournament championship against top-seeded — and No. 20-ranked — Loyola-Chicago.
Gaige Prim had 19 points, 15 rebounds and four blocks for the Bears.
Keaton Hervey added 18 points. Demarcus Sharp had 16 points and eight assists.