DES MOINES, IOWA ? Spend Thanksgiving in Cancun, Mexico with the Drake University men's basketball team during the upcoming 2008-09 season. The Bulldogs are scheduled to play in the Cancun Challenge Nov. 29-30.

Drake will join New Mexico, Vanderbilt and Virginia Commonwealth in the two-day event.

All the teams in the tournament posted at least 24 victories in 2007-08 with Drake and Vanderbilt competing in the NCAA Tournament, while New Mexico and Virginia Commonwealth played in the NIT.

Drake, under first-year coach Mark Phelps, has two starters returning from last year's team which posted a school-record 28-5 mark en route to winning the Missouri Valley Conference regular season and post-season tournament titles.

The Cancun Challenge will be played at the all-inclusive beach front Moon Palace Resort, which has a 7,165 par 72 Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course.

Lodging packages range from four to nine nights between Nov. 22 and Dec. 2. Due to limited seating, please note that game tickets are only guaranteed with the Triple Crown Fan Package. Passports will be required to travel to Cancun, and airfare is not included in the tournament package.

For more information, contact Melissa Koza at 970-223-6644 ext. 167 or via e-mail at melissa@triplecrownsports.com.