GAME NOTES: After going winless in the Challenge in Music City tournament, the Drake Bulldogs will try to get their first win in the month of December when they take on North Dakota on Saturday afternoon at the Knapp Center.

The Bulldogs' run in the Challenge in Music City ended with a 68-59 loss to the Murray State Racers. Drake didn't win a game during its time in Nashville, and will hope that a return home helps the team secure its first victory since defeating IUPUI on Nov. 25. The Bulldogs currently sit at 1-6 overall.

North Dakota recently completed its stay at the University of Utah Tournament, with a 78-60 loss to the Texas-Pan American Broncs. UND went 1-2 in the tournament, scoring a victory over Alabama State, and dropping a game to tourney hosts Utah. North Dakota's record after the recent loss stands at 2-4.

Drake and North Dakota have met only once previously, and that was last season in the opening round of the CIT. The Bulldogs made 80 percent of their free throw attempts (20-of-25) in the second half of that contest, which helped catapult them to a 70-64 victory over UND.

In the loss to Murray State, Gary Ricks Jr. scored 17 points to lead Drake in scoring. The Bulldogs also got a double-digit effort from reserves Chris Caird and Reed Timmer, who finished the game with 16 points and 13 points, respectively. Drake did shoot the ball well in the loss, converting 50 percent of its field goal attempts. However, the Bulldogs were bullied down low and gave up 19 offensive rebounds, which Murray State converted into 19 second- chance points. Drake also turned the ball over 20 times, which led to 25 points for the Racers.

Although the Bulldogs have shot a respectable 47.5 percent from the field this season, they've allowed teams to shoot 48.4 percent. Drake is also being outrebounded (209-187), and is heavily buried in the turnover margin at -43 for the season. Aside from fixing those issues, the Bulldogs will need to produce more at the offensive end as they only average 61.7 ppg. In four games, Ricks currently leads the team in scoring with his 14.3 ppg. The team's other double-digit scorers are Timmer (10.9 ppg), Caird (10.6 ppg), and Jordan Daniels (10.1 ppg). All four will need to improve their scoring output to help get Drake's season turned in the right direction.

In the 18-point loss to UT-Pan American, Jaron Nash finished the game with his third double-double of the season, as he collected 15 points and 13 rebounds. Estan Tyler also tallied 15 points for UND. North Dakota shot an unremarkable 35.8 percent from the field in the setback, which included a poor 7-of-25 effort in the second half. UND didn't play very good defense in the final 20 minutes, as they allowed the Broncs to convert 58.1 percent of their total shots. North Dakota also surrendered 34 points in the paint.

Nash has easily been the best player for UND this season, and he currently leads the team in scoring (14.7 ppg) and rebounding (8.8 rpg). Estan Tyler is the only other player averaging double digits for North Dakota with 12 ppg. If UND wants to compete in the Big Sky Conference this season, it will need to up the offensive production, as the squad currently shoot just 40.5 percent from the field, including a 35.4 showing from beyond the arc. UND has also played poor defense here in the early going, as it yields 68.8 ppg to foes, which are shooting 46.6 percent from the floor.

Although Drake shoots the ball better than UND, the Bulldogs have been weak down low. Expect Nash to get another double-double and lead his North Dakota squad to its third victory this season.