DES MOINES, IOWA -- Junior forward Brent Heemskerk came off the bench to score a career-high 18 points, while junior forward Jonathan Cox enjoyed his second straight double-double as the Drake men's basketball team beat Texas-Pan American, 83-55, to capture its second straight Drake Regency Classic championship Saturday night.

It marked the seventh straight victory for the Bulldogs who improved their record to 8-1 which is the best start at the school since the 1979-80 team opened the campaign at 9-1.

It was also the ninth straight home win which is the longest streak since the Drake Knapp Center opened in 1992.

Cox was named the outstanding player in the tournament after collecting 15 points and a career-high 14 rebounds. It was
his fourth double-double of the season.

Heemskerk, who entered the game leading the Missouri Valley Conference in field goal percentage (.737), made seven of eight shots from the floor while also collecting a season-high seven rebounds.

Sophomore guard Josh Young, who joined Heemskerk on the all-tournament team, added 14 points and three steals.

Senior guard Leonard Houston contributed 11 points ? all in the first half.

Texas-Pan American became the sixth Drake opponent to shoot less than 40 percent from the field, hitting 39.6 percent.

During Drake's seven-game winning streak opponents are shooting just 38.2 percent from the field making 137 of 358 shots.

The Bulldogs also have limited opponents in six home games to a combined 39.3 percent shooting making only 118 of 300 shots.

After a basket by Brian Burrell gave the Broncs a 12-11 lead, Heemskerk made two layups igniting a 9-0 run that gave Drake a 20-12 lead it would never relinquish with 9:32 left in the first half.

The Bulldogs used a 9-2 run, with Houston contributing six points points, to expand their lead to 29-15.

Cox scored six points midway through the second half to trigger an 11-2 scoring flurry by Drake which broke the game open at 60-39.

Drake outrebounded Texas-Pan American, 37-25.

The Bulldogs will resume action Friday traveling to the University of Iowa.