DES MOINES, IOWA -- Sophomore guard Josh Young tied a career-high with 24 points as Drake won its 10th straight game with a 61-51 victory past defending Missouri Valley Conference champion Southern Illinois Wednesday night.

Young scored 12 of Drake's last 18 points as the Bulldogs improved their record to 11-1 while matching the best start in school history. The only other Drake team in history to open the season at 11-1 was the 1968-69 Final Four squad under coach Maury John.

Drake also snapped a 17-game losing streak to Southern Illinois, earning its first victory against the Salukis since a 64-60 triumph Feb. 17, 1999 in Des Moines.

It also marked the first time Drake has opened the MVC season with a 2-0 record since the 1995-96 squad, under coach Rudy Washington, also started at 2-0 in the league.

Senior forward Klayton Korver added 13 points, including 10 in the first half for the Bulldogs who won their MVC home opener for the first time since the 2001-02 season.

Drake senior guard Leonard Houston collected 12 points - all in the second half.

Junior guard Wesley Clemmons led Southern Illinois, which slipped to 6-7, with 13 points.

Trailing 8-7 Drake went on a 7-0 run to grab a 14-8 lead it would never relinquish.

Young, who opened the game making his first three shots, including two three-point baskets, had five points to fuel the charge.

Southern Illinois missed five shots and committed five turnovers during the same stretch.

Owning a 27-22 halftime lead, Drake opened the second period making five of its first six shots from the floor.

Houston led the charge by scoring 10 points in the opening five minutes 39 seconds of the second half to give Drake its biggest lead of the game at 43-30.

Then the Bulldogs went 8 minutes 12 seconds without scoring a basket allowing the Salukis to cut the lead to 47-43 with 6:43 left following a three-point basket by reserve freshman forward Carlton Fay.

Drake's pressure defense then forced Southern Illinois guard Bryan Mullins into three straight turnovers.

The Bulldogs took advantage with Young scoring five points off the miscues. A layup by Houston pushed Drake's lead back to double digits at 54-43.

Young had three steals giving him eight in the last two games.

Drake held Southern Illinois to 39.2 percent shooting from the floor, while forcing the Salukis into 18 turnovers.

Southern Illinois outrebounded Drake, 34-29, with the MVC preseason player of the year Randal Falker grabbing seven.

Houston led Drake with seven, while junior forward Jonathan Cox added six boards.

DOG TAGS: Drake has held its last 10 opponents during its current winning streak to a combined 38.8 percent shooting (199-512) from the floor.

This marked the first time Drake has won 10 straight games since the 1969-70 team, under coach Maury John, won 11 straight games.

This also marked Drake's 10th straight home victory - the longest winning streak in the 15-year history of the Knapp Center. It also is the third longest in school history trailing winning streaks of 18 from 1962-64 and 23 from 1969-71.

It also marked the first time since the 2001-02 season, under coach Kurt Kanaskie, that Drake has won its MVC home opener.