Tavion Banks didn't hesitate to wave the banner for the western half of Missouri on Sunday afternoon.

The Drake University junior winger gave the credit to the hard scrabble, heartland work ethic he learned while growing up in the region.

"We're tough kids out there in KC," Banks proclaimed.

The Bulldogs, with four key players from the Kansas City area, rolled past Bradley 63-48 in the Missouri Valley Conference tournament championship game in front of 7,962 fans at Enterprise Center.

Junior Bennett Stirtz, the MVC player of the year, led the Bulldogs with 24 points. Banks came off the bench to add 13 points and a game-best nine rebounds.

Sophomore Cam Manyawu chipped in with nine points for the Bulldogs (30-3), who have won seven in a row and secured the league's automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament. Matchups and seedings for that event will be announced next Sunday, and Drake is likely to receive a No. 10 or 11 seed.

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Stirtz was a standout at Liberty High, just north of Kansas City. Banks went to Minnesota Prep in Minneapolis but still considers the area his home. Manyawu was a standout at Staley High. Guard Isaiah Jackson, who scored five points, went to William Chrisman High in Independence.

Even first-year Drake coach Ben McCollum has western Missouri roots. He spent the last 15 seasons at Northwest Missouri State University in Maryville, where he guided the Bearcats to four NCAA Division II national championships.

Call this group the western Missouri Bulldogs.

"We like to kid each other and joke about who was better in high school," said the 6-foot-4 Stirtz, who averages a team-best 19 points per contest. "There are some games against these guys that I'd like to forget."

This group was in total harmony Sunday.

Drake won the league tournament for the third successive season will be making its fourth NCAA Tournament berth in the last five years.

Bradley (26-8) had a five-game winning streak snapped. Darius Hannah paced the Braves with 19 points.

The Bulldogs exploded in the second half to break open a close game. They tallied eight of the first 10 points to stretch a four-point halftime lead to 39-29. Manyawu triggered the run with a slam, a short jumper and a block, all in the span of 2:11.

Daniel Abreu, who went to Willard High outside of Springfield, Mo., chipped in with a short jumper just 63 seconds into half to kick-start the streak.

Bradley got no closer than to within five points the rest of the way. After Duke Deen trimmed the deficit to 46-41 with 7:17 remaining, Banks silenced Bradley's comeback with a 10-footer that began a 9-0 run. Mitch Mascari canned two foul shots before Stirtz drilled a 3-pointer for a 53-41 cushion. Banks pumped the advantage to 55-41 with two foul shots with 4:45 remaining.

The Bulldogs came out in the second half with a point to prove.

The Drake defense forced Bradley to miss 12 of 13 shots in a stretch that began late in the first half.

Bradley came out on fire and hit six successive shots to begin the contest. Demarion Burch canned a 3-pointer to give the Braves a 27-24 cushion with just under four minutes left in the half.

Drake responded with a 7-0 run to carry a 31-27 lead into the break. Banks and Jackson keyed the spurt with a pair of short jumpers.

The Bulldogs won their first 12 games of the season despite being predicted to finish fifth in the league in a preseason poll.

There were questions as to whether McCollum could achieve success on the larger D-I level. Those questions were answered in a big way Sunday.

Stirtz, Jackson, Mascari and Abreu all accompanied McCollum from Northwest Missouri State.

Bradley played well at times, especially in the first half. But it made just two field goals over the first 9:35 of the second half.

"They were the better team today," Bradley coach Brian Wardle said of the Bulldogs. "We're heartbroken, still in shock a little bit."

Photos: Drake claims MVC championship in 63-48 win over Bradley

Bradley forward Darius Hannah and Drake forward Cam Manyawu reach for the ball during the tipoff during the first half of the Missouri Valley Conference championship game at Enterprise Center on Sunday, March 9, 2025.

Drake guard Kael Combs passes the ball behind Bradley center Ahmet Jonovic during the first half of the Missouri Valley Conference championship game at Enterprise Center on Sunday, March 9, 2025.

Bradley forward Almar Atlason attempts to block a shot by Drake guard forward Tavion Banks during the first half of the Missouri Valley Conference championship game at Enterprise Center on Sunday, March 9, 2025.

Drake guard Bennett Stirtz sprints towards the basket to dunk against Bradley during the first half of the Missouri Valley Conference championship game at Enterprise Center on Sunday, March 9, 2025.

Bradley forward Darius Hannah makes a pass from the floor against Drake during the first half of the Missouri Valley Conference championship game at Enterprise Center on Sunday, March 9, 2025.

Bradley head coach Brian Wardle shouts after a foul by Bradley against Drake during the second half of the Missouri Valley Conference championship game at Enterprise Center on Sunday, March 9, 2025.

Bradley forward Darius Hannah against Drake during the second half of the Missouri Valley Conference championship game at Enterprise Center on Sunday, March 9, 2025.

Drake guard Bennett Stirtz reacts to being fouled against Bradley during the first half of the Missouri Valley Conference championship game at Enterprise Center on Sunday, March 9, 2025.

Bradley guard Zek Montgomery dribbles while being defended by Drake guard Mitch Mascari during the second half of the Missouri Valley Conference championship game at Enterprise Center on Sunday, March 9, 2025.

Drake forward Daniel Abreu motions to a referee as players struggle for the ball during the second half of the Missouri Valley Conference championship game against Bradley at Enterprise Center on Sunday, March 9, 2025.

Drake forward Cam Manyawu makes an unsuccessful shot past Bradley guard Zek Montgomery during the first half of the Missouri Valley Conference championship game at Enterprise Center on Sunday, March 9, 2025.

Bradley forward Darius Hannah is pulled up from the floor by Bradley center Ahmet Jonovic and a Bradley fan during the second half of the Missouri Valley Conference championship game against Drake at Enterprise Center on Sunday, March 9, 2025.

Bradley guard Duke Deen reacts after a foul is called during the second half of the Missouri Valley Conference championship game against Drake at Enterprise Center on Sunday, March 9, 2025.

Drake head coach Ben McCollum reacts after Drake scored against Bradley during the second half of the Missouri Valley Conference championship game at Enterprise Center on Sunday, March 9, 2025.

Bradley guard Duke Deen dribbles past Drake guard Kael Combs during the second half of the Missouri Valley Conference championship game at Enterprise Center on Sunday, March 9, 2025.

Drake guard Bennett Stirtz hangs on to the rim after dunking against Bradley during the second half of the Missouri Valley Conference championship game at Enterprise Center on Sunday, March 9, 2025.

Drake fans clap after a successful free throw against Bradley during the second half of the Missouri Valley Conference championship game at Enterprise Center on Sunday, March 9, 2025.

Drake guard Bennett Stirtz holds a March Madness sign after Drake defeated Bradley in the Missouri Valley Conference championship game at Enterprise Center on Sunday, March 9, 2025.

Drake head coach Ben McCollum cuts down a net after Drake defeated Bradley in the Missouri Valley Conference championship game at Enterprise Center on Sunday, March 9, 2025.