NOV. 23, 2008

DES MOINES, IOWA ? Senior forward Brent Heemskerk (Grand Rapids, Mich.) recorded his first career double-double with a season-high 12 points and 10 rebounds helping the Drake men's basketball team beat South Dakota State, 75-65, in the second round of the Cancun Challenge Sunday.

Senior forward Jonathan Cox (Barrington, Ill.) led Drake with 15 points, including 10 in the second half, as five players scored in double figures.

Junior guard Josh Young (Lawton, Okla.), who leads the Missouri Valley Conference in scoring, added 14 points.

Junior transfer forward Adam Templeton (Rapid City, S.D.) netted 13 and sophomore guard Josh Parker (Harvey, Ill.) came off the bench to score a career-high 12 points for Drake which improved to 2-1.

Heemskerk, who had a combined two-game total of two points entering the game, missed his first shot against South Dakota State before making his next five shots.

After trailing 4-2, Drake went on a 10-0 run highlighted by consecutive three-point baskets from  Cox and junior reserve forward Bill Eaddy (Ypsilanti, Mich.). Heemskerk closed out the run with baskets on Drake's next two possessions.

South Dakota State missed four shots during Drake's run while encountering a scoreless drought of six minutes 21 seconds. The Jackrabbits also committed five turnovers during the same stretch.

A layup by Cox with 7:03 left gave Drake its biggest lead at 61-46.

The Bulldogs will play Vanderbilt this Saturday in Cancun, Mexico in a matchup featuring two teams which advanced to the 2008 NCAA Tournament.