NOV. 19, 2008

DES MOINES, IOWA -- All-Missouri Valley Conference junior guard Josh Young (Lawton, Okla.) scored a career-high 34 points as the Drake men's basketball team presented Mark Phelps with his first collegiate coaching victory with an 86-70 victory past Morehead State in an opening round game of the Cancun Challenge Wednesday night.

Junior forward Bill Eaddy (Ypsilanti, Mich.) came off the bench to score a career-high 17 points as the Bulldogs evened their record to 1-1.

"It was great to get our first win," said Phelps, who had served the past two years as associate head coach at Arizona State before being named Drake's 25th head coach last April 21. "We had a good all around team effort and got great production from our bench."

Drake, which shot just 31.1 percent in its season opener against Butler, hit 51 percent from the floor making 26 of 51 shots.

The Bulldogs were effective from the perimeter by making 15 of 27 three-point baskets for 55.6 percent.

The six-foot one-inch Young tied a career high in three-point baskets, by draining seven of 11 treys, while also matching a career high in rebounds with six.

He scored 19 points in the second half as Drake rallied from a 39-35 halftime deficit.

"Josh (Young) had a special night," added Phelps. "He made some shots look very easy that were incredibly hard.

"Bill Eaddy had a tremendous game off the bench. That was nice because he is such a hard worker."

Trailing 51-49 with 14:47 left, Young scored nine straight points to fuel an 11-0 run by Drake.

A free throw by Young gave Drake its biggest lead at 84-63 with 3:18 left.

Senior forward Jonathan Cox (Barrington, Ill.) added 10 points for Drake.

Cox collected three blocked shots to move into second place on Drake's career blocked shot list at 68, surpassing William Celestine who had 67 from 1990-94.

Cox, senior forward Brent Heemskerk (Grand Rapids, Mich.) and Young had six rebounds to pace Drake.

Drake will close out its season opening three-game home stand playing South Dakota State Sunday in the second round of the 10-team Cancun Challenge.

Junior forward Maze Stallworth had 26 points, including seven three-point baskets, to key Morehead State which fell to 0-3.