DES MOINES, IOWA -- Sophomore guard Josh Parker (Harvey, Ill.) came off the bench to score a team-high 19 points, while senior forward Jonathan Cox  (Barrington, Ill.) enjoyed his Missouri Valley Conference leading seventh double-double of the season as the Drake men's basketball team continued its success in the ESPNU BracketBusters series with a 71-54 victory past Austin Peay Saturday night.

Drake improved its record to 17-12 to string its third consecutive winning season at the school for the first time since 1978-81 when the Bulldogs posted records of 15-12, 15-12 and 18-11 under coach Bob Ortegel.

The Bulldogs also became the first team in the Missouri Valley Conference in the last decade to win at least 10 nonconference games in three consecutive years. Drake is 10-3 in nonconference games this season after posting 10-2 nonconference marks in 2006-07 and 2007-08.

It was festive night in which the members of the 1968-69 Drake Final Four basketball team were honored with the unveiling of new banners and the retirement of jerseys of Dolph Pulliam, Willie McCarter and Willie Wise.

"Those who follow NCAA basketball understand how difficult it is to reach the Final Four, so these players and coaches deserve this tribute,"  said Drake head coach Mark Phelps. "It was a fantastic weekend to share in the festivities."

After making just four three-point baskets in its last home game against Illinois State, Drake nailed 12 beyond the arc against Austin Peay for its second highest single game total of the season.

The Bulldogs also controlled the boards, outrebounding Austin Peay 45-25, including a 15-8 advantage on the offensive glass which resulted in 15-second chance points.

Drake's matchup zone defense held Austin Peay to just 36.2 percent shooting, while the Governors matched a season low in scoring.

Austin Peay swept both the 2008 Ohio Valley Conference regular-season and post-season tournament championships, while playing in the first round of the 2008 NCAA Tournament.

"Clearly, the key to tonight's game was how we played defense and controlled the boards," said Phelps.

Parker, who had started the previous nine straight games, hit five of eight shots beyond the three-point arc.

Cox added 14 points, while tying a career high with 14 rebounds. Junior guards Josh Young and Craig Stanley tallied 11 and 10  points, respectively.

"Hats off to Drake's guards. " said Austin Peay coach Dave Loos, whose team fell to 15-12. "They were hard to contain."

Parker, who was held scoreless in his last game at Northern Iowa, scored 12 points in the first half, coming on four three-point baskets.

Trailing 19-18 with six minutes 22 seconds left, Parker ignited an 18-3 run by Drake to close out first half by hitting a three-point basket to give the Bulldogs a 21-19 lead it never relinquished.

Parker made three three-point baskets in the surge, while Cox added seven points. Cox finished the first half with 14 points and 10 rebounds.

"JP (Josh Parker) picked up where he left off the last time he came off the bench for us," Phelps added. "He brings us great energy."

Drake enjoyed a 36-22 halftime lead marking the first time it had owned a double-digit lead at halftime since owning a 32-18 intermission advantage in a Dec. 20 game against Iowa.

Drake had nine three-point baskets in the first half which were the fourth highest in one half in school history.

Drake improved its record in the BracketBusters series to 5-1, including a 3-0 mark in home games.

DOG 'TAGS: Drake improved to 12-0 when outrebounding opponents this season and 13-2  when making eight or more treys in game...Young needs five three-point baskets to become just the third player in Drake history to make 200 treys in a career, joining co-record holders Luke McDonald (2001-03) and Klayton Korver (2003-08) who each had 241...Young, who has scored 1,271 points, needs seven points to move into No. 10 on the school career scoring list, surpassing Gus Guydon (1958-61), who had 1,277...Cox moved a step closer to No. 2 on the school career rebounding list. He has 777 rebounds, trailing Sam Roark who grabbed 792 from 1986-90.