WICHITA, KAN. -- Junior forward
Jonathan Cox scored 15 points in the second half, including two straight three-point baskets, to key Drake to a 62-54 victory past Wichita State in the Missouri Valley Conference opener for both teams Saturday night.
Drake improved its record to 10-1 while matching the best start in school history through 11 games. The last Drake team to open the season at 11-1 was the 1968-69 Final Four squad under coach Maury John.
It marked the first time Drake has won nine straight games since the 1969-70 team, under coach Maury John, won 12 straight games.
Sophomore guard
Josh Young led both teams with 17 points, while collecting a career-high five steals.
It marked the first time the Bulldogs had beaten Wichita State in back-to-back games since the 1995-96 campaign. Drake earned a 62-58 home win against Wichita State last Feb. 14 before winning tonight.
Cox tied a career high with three three-point baskets, while sharing the team lead with eight rebounds.
With the score knotted at 39-39, Cox drilled two straight treys to build the lead to 45-39 with 12:05 left.
After Wichita State pulled within 48-44, Cox made a layup and hit another three-point basket with 9:11 left to give the Bulldogs their biggest lead of the game at 53-44.
Drake senior guard
Adam Emmenecker had a career-high eight rebounds.
Emmenecker hit the clinching free throws with 28.4 seconds left, giving Drake a five-point margin. while silencing the sellout crowd of 10,478 in Koch Arena.
It marked the second time in the last three seasons that Drake had won its MVC opener on the road. Drake earned a 79-68 victory at Evansville in its 2005-06 opener.
Drake snapped a three-game road losing streak at Wichita State, claiming its first victory since a 71-60 triumph Jan. 3, 2004.
Drake owned a 30-25 halftime lead thanks in part to a steal by freshman guard
Josh Parker who then turned around to hit a three-point basket right before the buzzer .
The Bulldogs have led at halftime in all 11 games this winter.
Drake will open the home portion of its MVC schedule playing host to defending league champion Southern Illinois.
