THE SETTING: Drake, the oldest member of the Missouri Valley Conference, will open its 95th season of league action traveling to Evansville Sunday.
    
After playing six games in an 11-day period (Dec. 3-Dec. 13), Drake will have played just one game ? a 60-43 home victory against Iowa Dec. 20 ?   in a 14-day stretch before resuming action at Evansville.

TELEVISION: Sunday's game will televised by Fox Sports Net and Comcast throughout most of the Midwest with Dan McLaughlin and Charlie Spoonhour describing the action.

DRAKE RADIO: KRNT Radio (1350 AM) is the flagship station of Drake basketball with Larry Cotlar and Dolph Pulliam handling the broadcasting. The pregame show begins 30 minutes before tipoff.

SCOUTING THE OPPONENT: Under second-year coach Marty Simmons, Evansville (8-2) is off to its best start in 14 years and is just one win away from matching last season's victory total. The Aces have won all eight home games this season, best since the 2004-05 team also won its first eight home games.The Purple Aces rank third in the MVC in scoring offense, averaging 72.8 points, up from an MVC-worst 59.5 a year ago. Evansville's field goal percentage defense last season (.454) was also the MVC's poorest. This season, opponents are shooting only 40.6 percent. That's currently second best in the league.
    
Senior guard Jason Holsinger bagged six three-pointers in Saturday's 73-67 home win over North Carolina A&T, giving him 245 in his career. Three more will put Holsinger in the MVC's all-time top 10, and six more will make him the school career leader, surpassing Marcus Wilson's 250.

IOWA CONNECTION: Two native Iowans have played prominent roles in Evansville's success this season. Freshman guard Kaylon Williams, a former Cedar Rapids Kennedy prep standout, was named the MVC Newcomer of the Week on Monday afer averaging 8.5 points, 5.5 assists and 4.5 rebounds last week. He had nine assists, eight rebounds and seven points in a 72-40 romp past 2008 NCAA participant Western Kentucky on Dec. 13.
    
Senior forward Nate Garner, a former Cedar Rapids Washington prep, is one of the most improved players in the MVC, averaging 9.4 points and 6.9 rebounds while owning two double-doubles this season.

HOMECOMING: First-year Drake assistant coach Kareem Richardson was a two-year starter at Evansville being named to the MVC Scholar-Athlete team in 1996 and 1997. He also was a member of the 1996 MVC All-Underrated Team and graduated with a degree in telecommunications in 1997. Richardson also was an assistant coach at Evansville from 2003-07, serving as recruiting coordinator.    

DRAKE IN MVC OPENERS: Drake owns a 36-58 record in its Missouri Valley Conference openers (16-32 road/20-26 home) and this marks the fourth straight year the Bulldogs have played their MVC opener on the road including the third time in Evansville. The Bulldogs won their 2005-06 MVC opener in Evansville (79-68) as well as their 2007-08 MVC opener on the road at Wichita State (62-54).

EARLY SUCCESS STARTS WITH SENIORS: Although graduation claimed three senior starters from last year's school-record 28-5 mark, veteran leadership has been the biggest key in Drake's 9-3 start. Seniors Jacob Baryenbruch, Jonathan Cox, John Michael Hall, Brent Heemskerk and Alex White have combined to appear in 371 Drake games during their career. Then there's Drake juniors Bill Eaddy and Josh Young who have combined to appear in 108 games.

THE SERIES: In a series which started in 1995, Evansville owns a 15-14 advantage, but Drake has won 13 of the last 17 games. The Purple Aces won 10 straight games before Drake posted an 80-55 home victory in 2001, which started a three-game winning streak in the series. The Bulldogs have won nine of the last 11 games, sweeping the 2004-05 and 2007-08 season series.
    
Drake won two of three games in 2006-07, including a 101-96 overtime victory in the first round of the State Farm MVC Tournament.

THE LAST TIME:  Drake 73, Evansville 65 (Feb. 9, 2008 Des Moines, Iowa) ? Junior forward Jonathan Cox scored 14 of his season-high 21 points in the second half, helping power then No. 15 ranked Drake to its school-record 21st straight victory. Drake enjoyed a 33-24 halftime lead and expanded its margin to 59-40 following a three-point basket by Cox with 11:14 left in the game.
    
The Bulldogs forced Evansville into seven turnovers in the opening eight minutes of the second half. But the Purple Aces hung around, shooting a sizzling 65.4 percent in the second half to chop the deficit twice to eight points.
    
Cox bettered his previous single-game high of 19 set in an 81-78 victory at Evansville Jan. 6. Senior guard Leonard Houston added 15 points for Drake, while tying a career high with seven rebounds.
    
Sophomore guard Josh Young chipped in with 13 points, more than doubling his season low of six points scored in the earlier game at Evansville.
    
Senior guard Adam Emmenecker dished out nine assists, while moving into No. 9 on the Drake single-season assist list at 135, surpassing Curt Smith who had 130 in 1992-93.
    
Evansville went 6 minutes 5 seconds without a basket in the first half, while missing five shots and committing five turnovers (18:40 to 10:35). Drake capitalized by reeling off 13 straight points to turn a 3-2 lead into a 16-4 advantage.
    
THE LAST VISIT: Drake 71, Evansville 68  (Jan. 6, 2008, Evansville, Ind.) ? Junior forward Jonathan Cox scored 19 points, including 12 in the second half. The Bulldogs shot 68.2 percent from the floor in the second half, making 15 of 22 shots, to erase a 32-30 halftime deficit.
    
Cox made seven of eight shots from the floor, while grabbing a game-high nine rebounds and blocking a career-high five shots.
    
Senior guard Adam Emmenecker enjoyed his first career double-double with a then career-high 10 points and a career-high 10 assists.
    
With the score tied at 52-52 with 9:00 left, Cox and Emmenecker combined to score Drake's next 13 points to give the Bulldogs a 65-57 advantage. Emmenecker scored eight points during the surge, while Cox had a three-point basket and two free throws.
    
Senior guard Leonard Houston then hit a three-point basket from the right wing to give Drake its biggest lead of the game at 68-57 with 2:26 left. Evansville responded with eight straight points to pull within 68-65.
    
Cox nailed a three-point basket from the right baseline off a pass from Emmenecker with 23 seconds left to push the lead back to 71-65. Cox then blocked a shot by Evansville's Jay Couisnard with 11 seconds left.
    
Drake's bench was productive with 21 points. Junior forward Brent Heemskerk led the way with eight points, five rebounds, two assists and one steal. Guard Jacob Baryenbruch added two three-point baskets, while forward John Michael Hall collected five points and three rebounds.
    
Drake sophomore guard Josh Young scored a season-low six points but did manage to tie a career high with five rebounds.
    
A three-point basket by Hall allowed Drake to enjoy its biggest lead of the first half at 26-17 with 5:24 left. Evansville closed out the half with a 15-4 run to enjoy a 32-30 lead. Freshman reserve Clint Hopf, who was only averaging 3.3 points, scored seven points to fuel the surge.

THE COACH: A new era in Drake University basketball is underway with Mark Phelps being named the school's 25th head men's basketball coach, April 21, 2008. He succeeded Keno Davis who resigned to become head coach at Providence College.
    
Phelps served as associate head coach at Arizona State the past two seasons. The Virginia Beach, Va., native had served on the coaching staff at North Carolina State under head coach Herb Sendek from 1996-2006 before joining Sendek at Arizona State in 2006.
    
He was part of Sendek's staff that led North Carolina State to a 53-39 record (.576) in the Atlantic Coast Conference regular season and tournament play in the final five seasons in Raleigh, N.C. The Wolfpack tied for the second most wins in the ACC from 2001-2002 through the 2005-06 season. He joined the North Carolina State staff in 1996, serving as director of basketball operations before becoming assistant coach in 2000. He was promoted to recruiting coordinator, director of scouting and assistant coach with the Wolfpack in 2005.
    
Phelps posted a 148-53 record (.736 winning percentage) in six years as a high school head coach in Virginia. He was head coach at Atlantic Shores Christian High School in Chesapeake, Va., where he compiled a 44-12 record. The 1996 Old Dominion graduate  also coached four years at Rock Church Academy, constructing a 104-41 record while leading teams to three straight Metro Conference championships.

SECOND HALF SUCCESS: Drake can attribute its strong record to solid play at both ends of the court in the second half of games. Drake is outscoring opponents, 37.5 to 32.2 in the second half, rallying from a 10-point deficit to post a 66-63 victory at Iowa State. The Bulldogs also are limiting opponents to 39.8 percent shooting in the second half.
    
YOUNG GUNS: Consider the start Drake junior Josh Young is enjoying to open the season.  
    
Young is averaging 24.0 points, 10.0 free throws made, 4.7 rebounds, 3.3 three-point baskets and 1.3 steals in his last three games, while making 10 of 19 three-point shots (.526).     
    
The personable guard leads the MVC in scoring (17.7 avg.), while leading the league in free throws made (73) and free throws attempted (81).  He set a school record with 32 consecutive free throws made. He has committed just 12 fouls with his first infraction not occurring until the fourth game of the season.

YOUNG SWEEPS MVC WEEK AWARDS: One day after being named the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Basketball Player of the Week, Drake junior guard Josh Young was named the MVC Scholar-Athlete of the Week for the second straight week on Tuesday. He scored a game-high 24 points to spur the Bulldogs to a 60-43 victory past Iowa Saturday at the Drake Knapp Center.
    
Young, enjoying his third-straight 20-plus scoring game, recorded career highs of 14 made free throws and 15 free throws attempted. He also grabbed five rebounds for the third time in the last four games.The 6-foot 1-inch guard made two three-point baskets and collected a steal.
    
Young scored seven points during a 16-0 run that turned a 13-10 lead into a 29-10 Drake advantage.
    
Last week Young was named the MVC Scholar-Athlete of the Week for his performance from Dec. 8-14 when he averaged 22.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and 2.0 steals in three games as the Bulldogs won at Iowa State (66-63 on Dec. 9), defeated Georgia Southern (84-73 on Dec. 12) and fell to Stephen F. Austin (66-64 on Dec. 13).
    
Young, who has a 3.16 cumulative grade-point average in marketing and management, powered Drake to its road triumph at Iowa State, collecting 19 points, five boards and three steals.  In the Hy-Vee Classic, he averaged 24.0 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.5 steals per contest to earn all-tournament honors.

AS STANLEY GOES, SO GOES...: Junior transfer point guard Craig Stanley shot 64.7 percent (22-34) during Drake's recent six-game winning streak. He had a then career-high 10 points along with six assists and three rebounds in a 68-62 win against New Mexico. He dished out a career-high 11 assists against Lincoln and matched a career high with 10 points against Texas-Pan American. He tallied a then career-high 12 points at Iowa State, including the game-winning basket with 3:04 left, and had a career-high 14 points against Georgia Southern on seven-of-10 shooting from the floor.

STANLEY HONORED: Drake junior point guard Craig Stanley was named the MVC Newcomer of the Week Dec. 15 for his effort in leading the Bulldogs to two victories.
    
The five-foot 11-inch Stanley averaged 11.0 points and 4.0 assists in three games. He shot 56 percent from the field (14-of-25), while establishing career highs in scoring in consecutive games. Stanley collected a then career-high 12 points, including the game winning three-point basket with 3:04 left to key Drake to a 66-63 win at Iowa State. He had a new career high of 14 points in the 84-73 win against Georgia Southern.

ON THE REBOUND: Drake has outrebounded eight opponents this season and ranks third in the Missouri Valley Conference in rebounding margin at plus 5.4. The Bulldogs have outrebounded three of their last four opponents by 32 boards for a 10.1 margin. Drake outrebounded Iowa, 41-24, Dec. 20; Georgia Southern, 40-33 Dec. 12 and Iowa Sttae, 40-32, Dec. 6.
    
Drake forwards Adam Templeton (five) and Jonathan Cox (four) combined to grab nine offensive rebounds, one more than the entire taller Iowa State team. The Bulldogs had 11 offensive rebounds and scored 16 second-chance points, compared to just two by Iowa State.
    
Drake had 12 offensive rebounds and scored 13-second chance points against Iowa, while limiting the Hawkeyes to four offensive rebonds and three second-chance points.

NATIONAL LEADERS: According to the latest NCAA statistics, Drake ranks 10th in free throw percentage (.778), 17th in three-point field goals per game (9.1), 11th in personal fouls per game(14.4 avg.), 42nd in scoring defense (60.4 avg.) and 54th in three-point field goal percentage (.382).

WHO'S HOT: Fifth-year Drake senior forward Brent Heemskerk is shooting 56.7 percent from the floor (21-37) in his last nine games. Fifth-year senior forward Jonathan Cox is averaging 8.6 rebounds in his last 10 games. Cox also has equalled or set new career highs in three-point baskets with four and five treys, respectively, in two of the last nine games. Sophomore guard Josh Parker is averaging 11.3 points in his last 10 games. Senior forward Alex White is averaging 4.9 rebounds in his last seven games.

CHARITY TOSSES: One bright spot during the young season for the Bulldogs has been free throw shooting where Drake ranks 10th nationally and leads the Missouri Valley Conference, hitting at a 77.8 percent clip (196-252). Drake has made more free throws (196) than its opponents have attempted (148). Four players are shooting 75 percent or better led by Josh Young, who ranks 20th nationally at 90.1 percent (73-81), followed by Bill Eaddy at 90.9 percent (10-11), Jonathan Cox at 82.1 percent (23-28) and Adam Templeton at 80 percent (16-20) .

WHAT, ME WORRY?: With graduation claiming Klayton Korver, co-record holder for career three-point baskets at 241, off the 2007-08 Drake team which set a school single-season mark with 310 treys, there might have been some worries about the Bulldogs' perimeter attack this season. But Drake is on pace to eclipse last year's record, averaging 9.1 treys this season. With seven different players making a trey, Drake tied a season high with 15 three-point baskets against North Carolina Central Dec. 6.

TOURNAMENT TIME: Drake just concluded a stretch of playing in three tournaments in three weeks. The Bulldogs tied for third in the 10-team Cancun Challenge  Nov. 30, won the Iowa Realty Invitational Dec. 6 and finished second in the inaugural Drake Hy-Vee Classic Dec. 13, falling to Stephen F. Austin, 66-64, in the championship.
    
The Bulldogs have won 14 of 16 regular season tournament games dating back to 2006, claiming titles at the 2006 Sun Bowl Invitational, the 2006 and 2007 Drake Regency Challenge and the 2007 and 2008 Iowa Realty Invitational.

STOCK ON THE RISE: Sophomore guard Josh Parker, who was expected to challenge for the starting point guard vacated by the graduation of MVC Player of the Year Adam Emmenecker, has adapted well to his new role as backup off guard.
    
Parker ranks fifth in the MVC in three-point field goal percentage at .486. He had a career-high 22-point outburst against Lincoln (Mo.) and is averaging 11.0  points in his last nine games.
    
He was named the MVP of the Iowa Realty Invitational after averaging 15.0 points in the two games, while shooting  68.7 percent from the floor (11-16), including 66.7 percent (6-9) from three point range. He came off the bench to score a game-high 18 points in Drake's opening round 59-57 victory against Texas-Pan American and added 12 points in a 89-46 romp past North Carolina Central.
    
He matched a then career high with 12 points against Vanderbilt in the Cancun Challenge. It marked the second straight game he had scored 12 points after first accomplishing his career-high feat against South Dakota State Nov. 23.

IMPROVEMENT: Drake's Brent Heemskerk has proven to be another weapon in Drake's attack. After averaging just 1.0 point in the first two games of the season, Heemskerk has come alive, averaging 6.5 points in his last 10 games, including 12 vs. South Dakota State, eight vs. Vanderbilt, 17 vs. New Mexico and seven vs. Lincoln (Mo.) and Stephen F. Austin.
     
Heemskerk scored a season-high 17 points, making seven of nine shots, in a 68-62 victory against New Mexico. He also made his first three-point basket since the 2005-06 season.

COX MOVES UP LIST: Preseason All-MVC forward Jonathan Cox, who has appeared in 108 career games, has moved into No. 12 on the Drake career rebounding list at 635, surpassing Willie Wise (1967-69) who had 626. Wise was named to the all-time ABA team after a distinguished career with Los Angeles, Utah and Virginia.

YOUNG KEYS VICTORY PAST IOWA: Junior guard Josh Young enjoyed his third consecutive 20-plus scoring game, but Drake's defense stole the show en route to a 60-43 victory past Iowa before a sellout crowd of 7,152 at the Drake Knapp Center Saturday.
    
The Bulldogs continued their dominance of in-state schools by winning their 10th straight game against a Big Four school (Iowa, Iowa State, Northern Iowa).
    
The Bulldogs also have beaten Northern Iowa four straight times and Iowa State three times in a row. It marked the first time in the 63-game series history that Drake has won three straight games against Iowa. The Hawkeyes' 43 points were its fewest scored against Drake since a 35-22 victory Jan. 4, 1936.
    
Drake held Iowa to a season low in scoring, field goal shooting (.313) as well as three-point field goal shooting (.276.)
    
Iowa had entered the game leading the Big Ten Conference in field goal percentage (.489), while ranking 10th nationally in three-point field goal percentage (.421).
    
Young scored 10 points keying a 22-3 run by Drake that turned a 7-7 tie into a 29-10 advantage. Young had seven points and sophomore guard Josh Parker came off the bench to add five points during the final 4 minutes 18 seconds of the surge in which Drake scored 16 unanswered points.
        
The Hawkeyes could never pull closer than nine points. Iowa went 6 minutes 4 seconds without scoring (10:06 to 4:02), missing seven shots during a drought in the first half before Anthony Tucker hit a jumper.
    
Drake outrebounded Iowa, 41-24, owning a 12-4 advantage on the offensive boards which resulted in 13 second-chance points.
    
Young finished with a game-high 24 points, recording his 13th career 20-plus scoring game, including fourth of season. He is averaging 24.0 points in his last three games including 26 against Georgia Southern and 22 against Stephen F. Austin.
    
Young set career highs with 14 free throws made and 15 attempted. He also collected five rebounds for the third time in the last four games.
    
Parker tallied 14 points after scoring just two points in seven minutes at Iowa last year. It marked Parker's seventh double-figure scoring game of season.
    
Senior forward Brent Heemskerk had three blocked shots to move into a tie for No. 6 on Drake's career blocked shot chart at 58 with David Bancroft (2001-05). Senior forward Jonathan Cox grabbed a game-high eight rebounds for Drake.

DRAKE COMEBACK FALLS SHORT: Forward Josh Alexander scored all of his team high 18 points in the second half as Stephen F. Austin held off Drake, 66-64, to capture the inaugural Drake Hy-Vee Classic championship at the Drake Knapp Center.
    
The loss snapped a six-game winning streak by Drake and overshadowed a brilliant second-half performance by junior guard Josh Young who scored a game-high 22 points. Young, who became the 21st player in school history to reach 1,000 career points, scored 19 of Drake's last 29 points after he made his first basket of the game with 10:37 remaining.
    
Young made his last four three-point shots including a jumper from the right wing with 7.8 seconds which pulled Drake within 65-64.
    
Drake was forced to foul, sending Walt Harris to the free throw line where he made his first shot with 5.8 seconds but missed the second.
    
Drake forward Adam Templeton then ball faked his defender from the right baseline but was unable to get a shot off as the final horn sounded.
    
Senior forward Jonathan Cox had 19 points for Drake while moving into the No. 12 spot on the school career rebounding list at 627, surpassing Willie Wise who had 626 rebounds from 1967-69.
    
Stephen F. Austin, which posted a 26-8 record last season en route to winning the Southland Conference and playing in the NIT, showed no effects of a 112-111 triple overtime victory against North Dakota State. Alexander scored 12 of his team's 14 points during a 2-minute 48-second stretch that allowed Stephen F. Austin to turn a 39-35 lead into a 53-45 advantage with 7:05 left. The Lumberjacks would increase their lead to 57-45 following two free throws by Girod Adams. Even though each team pulled down 29 rebounds, Stephen F. Austin had 17 second-chance points compared to seven by Drake.
    
Drake junior guard Craig Stanley dished out  a game-high six assists. The Bulldogs shot 45 percent from the floor, including 50 percent (12-24) in the second half.

YOUNG KEYS DRAKE PAST GEORGIA SOUTHERN: Junior guard Josh Young scored a game-high 26 points, while triggering a late first-half surge that carried Drake to an 84-73 victory past Georgia Southern in the first round of the Drake Hy-Vee Classic.
    
The lead changed hands three times before Drake went on an 18-8 run to close out the first half, turning a 21-20 deficit into 38-29 lead. Young triggered the charge with eight points. Owning a 41-33 advantage, Young keyed an 11-1 run with five points as Drake expanded its lead to 52-34.
    
Drake junior point guard Craig Stanley achieved a career high in scoring for the second consecutive game with 14 points, while senior forward Jonathan Cox  and sophomore guard Josh Parker netted 11 apiece.
    
Young, enjoying his 11th career 20-plus scoring game, moved into No. 24  on the Drake career scoring list with 985 points. Young made four three-point baskets and grabbed five rebounds, while matching a season high with three steals. He did have his school-record string of 32 consecutive free throws end when he missed his first attempt in the second half.
    
Drake outrebounded Georgia Southern, 40-33, with senior forward Brent Heemskerk collecting a team-high eight rebounds. The Bulldogs shot 45.2 percent from the floor, hitting 28 of 62 shots. Georgia Southern hit 44.8 percent, drilling 26 of 58 shots.

PACK A SUITCASE: Fifth-year senior Brent Heemskerk, who has appeared in 105 games at Drake, has learned how to pack a suitcase during his career at Drake. He already has made three trips to California along with road trips to Florida and the Bahamas last season, as well as The Top of the World Classic in Fairbanks, Alaska, in 2006, and most recently, Cancun, Mexico.

PARKER NAMED MVP: Sophomore guard Josh Parker, who came off the bench to spark Drake to the championship, was named the most valuable player of the Iowa Realty Invitational. Parker averaged 15.0 points in the two games, while shooting  68.7 percent from the floor (11-16), including 66.7 percent (6-9) from three point range.  He came off the bench to score a game-high 18 points in Drake's opening round 59-57 victory against Texas-Pan American and added 12 points in an 89-46 romp past North Carolina Central.
    
Joining Parker on the all-tournament team were Drake teammates Jonathan Cox and Josh Young. Cox averaged 15.0 points and 7.5 rebounds, scoring 21 points against North Carolina Central, including a career-high five three-point baskets. Young averaged 11.0 points. He hit the game-winning basket with three seconds left to guide Drake to a 59-57 victory past Texas-Pan American and came back with 15 points against North Carolina Central.

COX HONORED: Drake's Jonathan Cox was named recipient of the Cancun Challenge “Overachiever” award after averaging 12.0 points and 10.5 rebounds in two games, while leading Drake to a third-place finish. He had 12 points and seven rebounds vs. Vanderbilt, while tying a then career high with four three-point baskets. Cox collected 12 points and a season-high 14 rebounds against New Mexico.

BIG FOUR COUNTDOWN: Drake will close out the nonconference schedule hosting Iowa Dec. 20 in the fifth of seven games involving Iowa's Big Four NCAA Division I basketball programs this season. Iowa State earned a 71-66 victory at Northern Iowa Dec. 3. Iowa beat Northern Iowa 65-46, and claimed a  73-57 home victory past Iowa State Dec. 12. Drake will entertain Northern Iowa Jan. 17 and travel to Cedar Falls Feb. 18.
    
Drake has won 12 straight games against schools from Iowa dating back to 2006, beating Iowa three times, Iowa State three times, Northern Iowa four times, along with wins against Waldorf and Cornell.

DRAKE CONTINUES BIG FOUR DOMINANCE: Craig Stanley's three-point basket gave Drake its only lead of the game when it counted the most, propelling the Bulldogs to a come-from-behind 66-63 victory at Iowa State.
    
Stanley hit only his second three-point basket of the season when he took a feed from Josh Young and connected from the right baseline with 3:04 left to give Drake a 64-62 lead. The basket capped a 14-2 run by Drake during a 4-minute 54-second span that erased a 60-50 Iowa State lead.
    
Junior guard Josh Young paced a balanced scoring attack for Drake with 19 points along with five rebounds and a season-high three steals.
    
Senior forward Jonathan Cox recorded his 14th career double-double and second of the season with 14 points and 14 rebounds for Drake. Junior transfer forward Adam Templeton collected his first career double-double with 13 points and career-high 10 rebounds.
    
Drake held Iowa State to just one basket in the final 7:58 of the game. A free throw by Craig Brackins brought Iowa State to within 64-63, but Stanley and Templeton each made a free throw in the final 28 seconds to account for the final margin.
    
It marked the first time Drake has beat Iowa State three straight times since the Bulldogs beat the Cyclones in four consecutive years from 1973-76. It also marked the first time Drake has ever beaten Iowa State in two consecutive trips to Hilton Coliseum.
    
Cox and Templeton combined for 24 of Drake's 40 rebounds as the Bulldogs won the battle of the boards, 40-32.
    
Iowa State went on an 11-0 run to break a 6-6 tie as Drake missed four shots and committed two turnovers during the stretch. The Cyclones erected a 24-11 cushion before Drake went on a 13-3 run to pull within 27-24 following a three-point basket by Templeton.
    
However, Iowa State responded with consecutive three-point baskets from Diante Garrett and Lucca Staiger to push its advantage to 33-24. Drake scored the last five points of the first half to close the gap to 33-29 on three free throws by Young and two by Cox.
    
Drake held Iowa State to just 36.7 percent shooting from the floor in the second half.

DRAKE WINS IOWA REALTY TITLE: Senior forward Jonathan Cox scored 21 points, including a career-high five three-point baskets, as Drake rolled to an 89-46 victory past North Carolina Central  to win the Iowa Realty Invitational for the second straight year. Cox, who played only 21 minutes, surpassed his combined total of 20 points from Drake's previous two games. He made six of his final seven shots to close out the contest.      
    
Drake tied a season high by making 15 three-point baskets. Junior guard Josh Young added 15 points, including three treys, while sophomore guard Josh Parker tallied 12 points off the bench.
    
The Bulldogs shot over 50 percent from the floor for a third straight game, by hitting a season-high 53.3 percent making 32 of 60 shots.
    
With the score tied at 16-16, Drake reeled off 11 straight points to ignite a 16-2 run. Cox hit two three-point baskets during the surge. The Bulldogs erected a 47-25 halftime lead, making eight three-point baskets which rank as the fourth highest one-half total in Drake history.
    
Young more than doubled his entire Friday night scoring output of seven points in a 59-57 victory against Texas-Pan American.
    
Drake outrebounded North Carolina Central, 44-26.  Fifth-year senior Brent Heemskerk  and senior Alex White led Drake with eight rebounds apiece, while Cox grabbed seven boards. Heemskerk's eight boards surpassed his previous two-game combined total of seven.                                                                                                                  

CHAMPIONSHIP BANNERS UNVEILED: Prior to the basketball game against Lincoln (Mo.), both the 2007-08 MVC Championship and NCAA Tournament banners were unveiled.

DRAKE CLAIMS THIRD IN CANCUN: Senior forward Brent Heemskerk, appearing in his 100th career game, scored a season-high 17 points as Drake held off New Mexico, 68-62, to capture third place in the inaugural Cancun Challenge at the Moon Palace Resort in Cancun, Mexico, Nov. 30.        Senior forward Jonathan Cox enjoyed his first double-double of the season with 12 points and a season-high 14 rebounds for the Bulldogs.
    
A jumper by Heemskerk gave Drake its largest lead of the game at 62-48 with 6 minutes 28 seconds left, but the Bulldogs would finish the contest without making a basket, missing their last three shots while committing four turnovers. But Drake preserved the win by making six of eight free throws down the stretch.
    
Young and junior guard Craig Stanley added 10 points apiece for Drake. Stanley dished out six assists. Senior reserve guard Jacob Baryenbruch added seven points, including a trey, while sinking all four free throw attempts in the waning minutes.
    
Drake broke away from a 31-31 halftime tie by making its first five shots from the floor, including three-point baskets from Josh Young, Adam Templeton and Cox to forge to a 45-38 lead with 16:23 remaining.Then Heemskerk gave Drake its first double-digit lead of the game at 50-40 with a trey from the right baseline with 13:06 left. It marked the first three-point basket by Heemskerk since the 2005-06 campaign.
    
Drake finished with eight three-point baskets, coming from five different players. The Bulldogs outrebounded New Mexico, 36-29 Two free throws by Stanley with 27.7 seconds left enabled Drake to tie the game at halftime at 31-31. Drake overcame 36.8 shooting from the floor by sinking 15 of 22 free throws compared to 6 of 10 charity tosses by New Mexico. The Lobos enjoyed a 13-5 lead before Drake went on an 11-2 run to grab its first lead of the game at 16-15 following a layup by Stanley.

ASSOCIATED PRESS POLL: Drake, coming off a school-record 28-5 campaign,  received one vote in the inaugural preseason Associated Press Top 25 college basketball poll released Oct. 31. The Bulldogs were ranked nine straight weeks in the 2007-08 Associated Press Top 25 poll, finishing No. 14 in the final poll. Four opponents which Drake will play this season also received votes: Vanderbilt 11, Butler seven, New Mexico three and Creighton seven.
    
A SEASON TO REMEMBER: Picked to finish ninth in the preseason Missouri Valley Conference poll, Drake was the TALK of college basketball in 2007-08, posting a school-record 28-5 mark.             
    
The Bulldogs enjoyed a school-record 21-game winning streak, while being ranked in the Associated Press and USA Today/ESPN Coaches poll nine straight weeks. The 21-game winning streak was the fourth longest winning streak by a team in Missouri Valley Conference history, and the longest winning streak since Bradley reeled off 22 straight wins in 1985-86.
    
Drake started off the MVC season with a 13-0 record before finishing at 15-3 for the most league victories ever by a Bulldog team. Drake became just the 12th regular season MVC champion to also win the league tournament title. Drake's 13-0 league start marked just the fifth time in the last 50 years that a school has enjoyed a 13-0 start in the MVC. Drake more than doubled its entire MVC victory output of six wins in 2006-07.

SIZING UP THE BULLDOGS: Despite the loss of graduated seniors Adam Emmenecker, Leonard Houston and Klayton Korver, the Drake basketball team hopes to ride the momentum generated from a record-breaking campaign last year. First-year coach Mark Phelps inherits a roster that has eight returning letterwinners, including All-Missouri Valley Conference performers Josh Young and Jonathan Cox, from a team that posted a school-record 28-5 mark.
    
The Bulldogs were the talk of college basketball in 2007-08. Picked to finish ninth in the MVC preseason poll, Drake reeled off a school-record 21 straight wins  - including 13 straight to begin conference play - en route to becoming the first team to sweep both the MVC regular-season and tournament titles since 2002.
    
Veteran leadership, featuring five seniors, will be a key in aiding the transition of a new staff.
    
"When you look at the returning players coming back, especially the seniors, this team has a taste of winning at a high level and that mentality going into games will be every bit as valuable as our on-court preparation, because in big games they've had success and know what it feels like," said Phelps.
    
"Our players have been terrific. I knew that we were coming into a situation where we had really good players and good people but the reception has been outstanding from our guys. It just confirms what we thought all along that we have some terrific people and I think that will translate to success on the court as well."
    
The Bulldogs' biggest calling card to success was outside shooting after setting a school single-season mark with 310 three-point baskets. Despite the loss of Korver, who tied the school career mark with 241 treys, Drake should be lethal again from the perimeter with Young, Cox and the addition of junior transfer forward Adam Templeton from UC Irvine.
    
Young, a 6-foot 1-inch junior guard, led the MVC in scoring last year with a 15.9 average, while ranking second with 86 three-point baskets and third in three-point field goal percentage (.434). Selected to the U.S. Basketball Writers Association All-District VI team, Young enjoyed eight 20-plus scoring games, netting  a career-high 25 in a 71-64 upset at then No. 8 ranked Butler.
    
At 6-8 Cox might be the most versatile frontline performer in the MVC. The former walk-on ranked second in the MVC in rebounding (8.5 avg.), three-point field goal percentage (.440) and defensive rebounding (6.1 avg.). Named to the 2008 MVC Most Improved Team, Cox saved his best for last with a career-high 29 points and 16 rebounds in an NCAA Tournament game against Western Kentucky.
    
"Cox is such a unique front court player because he can play all over the floor and at 6-8 he can score in the low post and can operate off the lane and stretch the defense to the perimeter," Phelps added.
    
Senior forwards John Michael Hall (3.5 ppg), Brent Heemskerk (4.7 ppg) and Alex White (3.7 ppg) look to blossom in more expanded roles. Two-year letterwinner Bill Eaddy, a 6-5 junior swingman, also has make his presence known.
    
"Several of those players who haven't had a major role on the floor, to date in their career, have an opportunity to step up in a big way for us," said Phelps.
    
The biggest shoe to fill is at point guard where Adam Emmenecker graduated after being named both the Larry Bird MVC Player of the Year as well as the MVC Tournament MVP. He set a school single-season record with 213 assists last year. Sophomore Josh Parker, who was Emmenecker's understudy, will battle junior Craig Stanley, a transfer from Collin (Texas) County Community College, and senior Jacob Baryenbruch for the vacated position. Baryenbruch, who started in five games last year, is a three-year letterwinner. Parker played in 31 games as a freshman averaging 2.0 points.

NEW KIDS ON BLOCK: Newcomers who are expected to contribute immediately are junior transfers Craig Stanley from Collin (Texas) County Community College and  Adam Templeton from UC Irvine. The 6-5 Templeton was a two-year starter at UC Irvine where he was named to the Big West Conference All-Freshman team in 2005-06. He averaged 8.0 points and 3.9 rebounds for the Anteaters in 2006-07, while leading the team with 59 three-point baskets. He led the squad in scoring in five games, with a career-high 19 points at Drake in 2006. He also had a double-double in an upset win vs. South Carolina, collecting 16 points and 10 rebounds. Templeton earned first team all-state honors as a senior at Rapid City (S.D.) Central High School, while averaging 19.0 points and 8.5 rebounds in leading his team to the state tournament.
    
Stanley ranked seventh nationally in assists last year, averaging 5.4 and ninth in assist-to-turnover ratio (2.14). He averaged 11.4 points and 2.3 rebounds in 2006-07, while leading Collin County to a 21-9 record. He enjoyed double-doubles of 10 points and 10 assists against Southwestern Christian College and a career-high 23 points and 10 assists against Jacksonville. He earned first-team All-District 8-5A honors as a senior at West High School in Plano, Texas, in 2006 after leading the team in scoring (13.1 avg.) and assists (3.6 avg.).

PREP STANDOUTS JOIN PROGRAM: High school basketball standouts Aaron Hawley, a 6-foot 7-inch forward from Rogers, Ark.; Ben Simons, a 6-7 guard from Cadillac, Mich.; David Smith, a 6-3 guard from Chicago;  Reece Uhlenhopp, a 6-7 forward from Urbandale, Iowa; and Seth VanDeest, a 6-9 forward from Bettendorf, Iowa, have signed national letters of intent indicating they will join the Drake men's basketball program.
        
“We are very excited to announce the signing of five outstanding young men who will join us as freshmen here at Drake in the fall of 2009,” said Drake coach Mark Phelps. “Each of these young men comes to us with demonstrated success and each has had the privilege of playing for winning high school basketball programs.  
        
“These five men exemplify the type of student-athletes we want to recruit to Drake. They excel in the classroom, they are men of character and integrity and are versatile, talented basketball players. Each of these young men are from terrific families and are very enjoyable to be around.”
        
Hawley will enter his third year as a starter at Rogers High School where he earned Arkansas Class VII all-state honors in 2007-08. Hawley also was named to the all-region teams of the Northwest Arkansas Morning News, The Benton County Daily Record and the KURM Dream Team.
        
The two-time all-league performer averaged 15.4 points and 5.0 rebounds in 2007-08 keying his team to a 21-8 record en route to the quarterfinal round of the Arkansas VII State Tournament. He scored 30 points vs. Little Rock Central as a sophomore, while tallying 28 points vs. Alma last year.
        
“Aaron is a versatile, athletic wing who has the ability to be successful from a variety of areas on the floor,” said Phelps.  “He shoots the ball very well from the perimeter and the ability to also score around the basket.  His competitive nature and desire to excel makes him stand out among his peers.”
        
Simons earned first-team Michigan Class B all-state honors by the Detroit Free Press and the Basketball Coaches Association of Michigan. He was a two-time first team All-Big North Conference performer who averaged 18.8 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.7 blocked shots, 3.0 assists and 2.0 steals in 2007-08 while leading Cadillac to a 16-6 record. Simons had 29 points vs. Traverse City Central, while grabbing 15 rebounds vs. Mount Pleasant. He is a nominee for the 2009 McDonald's High School All-American game.                                     
        
“Ben is a versatile guard who can put the ball on the floor very well and has a great shooting touch from beyond the college line,” pointed out Phelps. “His high basketball IQ, length and ability to score make him an ideal fit for our style of play.  He grew up in a basketball family and has a great passion for and knowledge of the game.”
            
Smith is a three-year starter at Lake Forest Academy, who has been a two-time first-team all-conference performer. He averaged 13.0 points, 4.6 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 3.1 steals in 2007-08 after guiding the team to a 24-9 record including the Independent School League title with a 13-0 mark. Smith is a nominee for the 2009 McDonald's High School All-American game. A three-time team captain, he had a career-high 22 points as a sophomore vs. Luther North. The versatile athlete also won the high jump in the 2008 Independent School League meet.
            
Uhlenhopp earned third-team all-state honors in 2007-08 by the Iowa Newspaper Association. He was a first-team all-district choice who averaged 15.3 points and 5.0 rebounds, while shooting 57 percent from floor in 2007-08. He helped lead Urbandale to 13-9 record last year, including its fourth straight Central Iowa Metro League title. He is the step-brother of former Drake women's basketball standout Jill Martin (2003-08) who was a three-time All-Missouri Valley Conference performer.
    
VanDeest earned second-team all-conference honors in 2007-008, while guiding Bettendorf to a 19-4 record including a second-place conference finish. He averaged 8.0 points and 5.0 rebounds, while shooting 57 percent from the floor.
            
“Seth is a skilled center with tremendous toughness and determination,” Phelps said. “He has very good footwork, is an excellent passer and has a variety of post moves. Seth also has an excellent shooting touch for a player his size. Seth has a strong desire to reach his full potential. His grit and work ethic stood out to our staff during the recruiting process.”