NASSAU, THE BAHAMAS ? Guards Leonard Houston (Holland, Mich.) and Josh Young (Lawton, Okla.) combined for 51 points as the Drake men's basketball team opened a four-game tour of the Bahamas with a 91-65 victory past the Bahamas All-Stars Sunday night at Sir Kendall Isaac Gym.
Young collected 14 of his game-high 27 points in the first half, while Houston scored 16 of his 24 points in the same period as Drake enjoyed a 53-27 halftime advantage.
Young, a sophomore who was named to both the 2007 Missouri Valley Conference All-Freshman and All-Newcomer teams, played a brilliant floor game with seven assists and six steals.
Junior redshirt forward Brent Heemskerk (Grand Rapids, Mich.) scored 14 points for Drake, while junior forward Jonathan Cox (Barrington, Ill.) had 11 points and a game-high 11 rebounds.
"Overall, I was happy with the experience the team got tonight and how hard we played," said first-year coach Keno Davis. "Leonard (Houston) and Josh (Young) stepped up and played well for us."
The Bulldogs didn't encounter any problems adapting to international rules, including the three-point arc which is nine inches further than the 19 foot 9 inch line used in the NCAA.
Drake made 12 three-point baskets with Young leading the team with four, followed by three treys from Cox and two from Houston and junior Jacob Brayenbruch (Spring Green, Wis.).
"When we were fresh to start the game, our guys really shot well in the first and second quarters," added Davis. "We have the ability to be a real good three-point shooting team this season."
Senior guard Adam Emmenecker (Saginaw, Mich.) dished out a team-high nine assists, while collecting four steals.
"On a trip like this you're not expecting the team to play in mid-season form and we showed signs of that tonight," added Davis.
Drake outrebounded the Bahamas All-Stars, 42-29, with Heemskerk collecting eight rebounds.
Drake's pressure defense also forced 21 turnovers.
The Bulldogs will play Sunshine Auto this Monday, followed by a Tuesday game against the Commonwealth Bank Giants.
