hoal
DES MOINES, IOWA (AP) -- Pete Eggers scored a career-high 23 points as Drake ended a four-game losing streak with an 82-54 victory over Western Illinois on Saturday.
Lonnie Randolph added 14 points and four steals as Drake (2-4) scored 23 points on 22 Leathernecks (3-5) turnovers.
"Tonight we loosened up," Drake coach Tom Davis said. "We got better ball movement and shot better."
It marked the second straight Saturday in which Eggers scored more than 20 points after collecting a previous career-high 21 points at Colorado State on Dec. 4.
"Our guards did a good job of penetrating and pitching it out," said Eggers, who added five rebounds and three assists.
Randolph and Chaun Brooks averaged a combined 10.1 points while shooting a combined 24 percent from the floor (12-50).
The duo combined for 20 points against Western Illinois, while shooting 50 percent (5-10) from the floor with seven assists and five steals. Brooks scored six points and had four assists.
Eulis Baez scored eight points for Western Illinois
A three-point basket by Nathan Koster pulled Western Illinois to within 30-26 but the Bulldogs responded by scoring six straight points and gained a 39-29 halftime lead.
Drake will take an eight-day break for semester exams before resuming action with a road game at Southern Utah on Dec. 20.
"This victory means a lot for our confidence, especially going during break," Eggers said.
