CANCUN, MEXICO -- Drake dug itself in a hole early and shot just 37.2 percent from the floor en route to dropping a 72-57 decision to Vanderbilt in the semifinal round of the Cancun Challenge Saturday night.
The Bulldogs will play New Mexico in a 7:15 p.m. tip-off Sunday with the game televised by CBS College Sports.
Clinging to a 13-11 lead, Vanderbilt took advantage of a 6 minute 30 second scoring drought by Drake midway through the first half to go on a 9-0 breaking open a close game.
Reserve forward Bill Eaddy (Ypsilanti, Mich.) ended Drake's dry spell with a three-point basket at the top of the key with 8:15 left in the period.
Senior forward Jonathan Cox (Barrington, Ill.), appearing in his 100th career game, and sophomore reserve guard Josh Parker (Harvey, Ill.) led Drake with 12 points apiece.
Cox, who sat out 10 minutes of the first half after he picked up his second foul, tied a career high by making four three-point baskets.
Vanderbilt made a season-high 10 three-point baskets, hitting seven of 11 treys in the first half to enjoy a 37-26 cushion.
Freshman guard Brad Tinsley led the Commodores with a career-high 19 points, including 13 in the first half. He made five of eight three-point shots.
Then 6-foot 10-inch All-Southeastern Conference center A.J. Ogilvy took over in the second half scoring all 13 of his points.
"They (Vanderbilt) hit big three-point baskets in the first half and the big man (Ogilvy) wore us down in the second half," said Drake coach Mark Phelps, whose team fell to 2-2..
"We're still a work in progress and not where we want to be."
Vanderbilt took advantage of 10 turnovers by the Bulldogs in the first half, converting those miscues into 10 points. Drake finished the game with 16 turnovers.
"We committed way too many turnovers, especially in the first half. We have to do a better job of holding on to the basketball," Phelps added.
The taller Commodores outrebounded Drake, 28-24. Cox led Drake with seven rebounds.
Junior guard Josh Young (Lawton, Okla.) added 10 points for Drake, while fifth-year senior Brent Heemskerk (Grand Rapids, Mich.) collected eight points, five rebounds and two blocked shots.
