The most impressive performance of the afternoon came from Simons who was 12 of 19 from the field, including 4 of 5 from three-point range, while playing all 40 minutes. 

Drake head coach Mark Phelps had great admiration for his star junior. 

"What a great performance today by Ben," Phelps said.  "Ben played all five positions today.  He is an unbelievable player in terms of his versatility.  To understand and know what we're doing on both sides of the court from all five positions is extremely impressive and certainly we needed his scoring.  Moving forward I'm sure that gives him an elevated confidence level."

Quincy head coach Marty Bell has a developed a strong program at the Division II school on the Illinois border, sharing the Great Lakes Valley Conference title last year and building a 142-93 record in his eight seasons at the helm.  Former Drake head coach Kurt Kanaskie's son, Kevin, is a graduate assistant on Bell's staff.

The Bulldogs dressed only five scholarship players because of widespread injury and two suspensions.  Of the five, Simons and Aaron Hawley (Rogers, Ark.) were the only players to average significant minutes on last year's squad.  Walk-on Cory Parker (Aspen, Colo.) played 37 minutes, 30 fewer than he played all of last season, while freshman Judd Welfringer (Waukee, Iowa) and redshirt-freshman Karl Madison (Springfield, Ill.) played their first minutes as Bulldogs, rounding out the starting line up.

Phelps felt Parker battled through adversity to have a strong showing when his team needed. 

"Cory is really an inspiration in terms of how he battles," Phelps said. "Cory has a foot problem that a lot of us wouldn't play with but he goes out there for 37 minutes today and battles a real good front-court player."

"This game was great preparation for [the upcoming season].  Moving forward we anticipate having the guys who were injured back.  We've now got a week to get ready, a week to get better, and a week to get healed."

Phelps' Bulldogs have a week of practice to regroup and heal before their regular season opener next Saturday against Upper Iowa.  Tipoff at the Knapp Center is set for 7:05 p.m.  Quincy will take its momentum to Champaign, Ill., on Monday to play the Fighting Illini of the University of Illinois.