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DRAKE (11-1, 2-0 MVC)
at EVANSVILLE (5-7, 0-2 MVC)
2:05 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 6, 2008
Roberts Stadium, Evansville, Ind.
DRAKE REPORT
PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP
Drake Bulldogs: 11-1, 2-0 MVC (Coach: Keno Davis, first year)
Pos. Player (Ht., Yr., Hometown) PPG RPG FG% FT%
G-5 Leonard Houston (6-3, Sr., Holland, Mich.) 14.9 4.0 .480 .760
G-15 Adam Emmenecker (6-1, Sr., Saginaw, Mich.) 3.6 4.3 .458 .656
G-20 Josh Young (6-1, So., Lawton, Okla.) 17.9 2.8 .461 .750
F-24 Klayton Korver (6-5, Sr., Pella, Iowa) 8.7 3.8 .312 .800
F-31 Jonathan Cox (6-8, Jr., Barrington, Ill.) 10.8 8.6 .474 .800
Top Reserves
F-2 Alex White (6-6, Jr., Albuquerque, N.M.) 3.8 3.1 .519 .375
F-4 Brent Heemskerk (6-8, Jr., Grand Rapids, Mich.) 7.1 3.4 .776 .563
G-11 Jacob Baryenbruch (6-0, Jr., Spring Green, Wis.) 1.6 0.7 .300 .667
G-23 Josh Parker (6-0, Fr., Harvey, Ill.) 2.7 1.3 .333 .750
F-50 John Michael Hall (6-5, Jr., Moultrie, Ga.) 4.3 2.0 .379 .778
THE SETTING: Drake will play its third road game in the last four outings when it travels to Evansville Sunday. The last time these two schools played they combined for 26 three-point baskets with the Bulldogs setting a Missouri Valley Conference tournament record with 15 treys en route to 101-96 overtime win last March 1 in St. Louis, Mo.
The Bulldogs will be out to avenge a 78-57 loss suffered in their last appearance at Evansville in the 2006-07 MVC opener.
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.
TELEVISION: The Drake-Evansville game will be televised on FoxSports Midwest and Comcast Chicago with Dan McLaughlin and Charlie Spoonhour describing the action.
A START TO REMEMBER: Drake?s 11-1 mark equals the best start in school history through 12 games. The 10-game winning streak marks the first time Drake has won 10 straight games since the 1969-70 team, under coach Maury John, won 12 straight games. A combination of factors ? rebounding, hot shooting, defense ? have been instrumental in the Bulldogs? current nine-game winning streak:
?Drake is outrebounding opponents, 37.2 to 31.8
?Drake is averaging 10.2 steals, while forcing opponents into an average of 19.5 turnovers ?Drake is outscoring opponents, 75.8 to 54.3
?Drake is averaging 9.9 three-point baskets per game
?Drake is limiting opponents to 38.9 percent shooting from the floor
?Three players are shooting better than 50 percent from the floor, led by junior reserve forward Brent Heemskerk, who is shooting 75 percent (33-44) in his last 10 games
?Drake has won all six home games by an average margin of 25.9 points, including four games by 30 or more points, highlighted by a 79-44 victory against Iowa State Dec. 5 which is the largest Bulldog victory margin in the 167 games played between the schools.
EARLY SUCCESS STARTS WITH SENIORS: Although graduation claimed four senior starters from last year?s 17-15 team, veteran leadership has been the biggest key in Drake?s 11-1 start. Seniors ? Adam Emmenecker, Leonard Houston and Klayton Korver have combined to appear in 261 Drake games during their career. Then there?s fourth-year Drake juniors Jonathan Cox and Brent Heemskerk who have combined to appear in 149 games.
GETTING DEFENSIVE: Improved defensive play has been a key to Drake?s 11-1 start. Drake has held its last 10 opponents ? Cornell, Milwaukee, North Carolina Central, Duquesne, Iowa State, Chicago State, Texas-Pan American, Iowa, Wichita State, Southern Illinois ? to a combined 38.8 percent shooting from the floor, making 179 of 461 shots.
?Drake forced Southern Illinois All-MVC guard Bryan Mullins into a season-high 7 turnovers.
?The Bulldogs held Wichita State to a home season-low 54 points.
?The Bulldogs held Iowa State to 44 points ? its lowest output since Feb. 2, 2003, when it scored 43 against Texas Tech.
?Drake held Duquesne, which was the nation?s top scoring offensive team (95.9 ppg avg.), To 22.9 points below its scoring average, en route to winning the Iowa Realty Invitational title with a 77-73 victory.
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The Bulldogs limited Milwaukee to a season-low 32.8 percent shooting (19-58).
THE SERIES: In a series which started in 1995, Evansville owns a 15-12 advantage, but Drake has won 11 of the last 15 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 seven of the last nine games, sweeping the 2004-05 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 101, Evansville 96 overtime (March 1, 2007, St. Louis, Mo.) ? Junior Klayton Korver hit a 3-pointer with 47 seconds left in overtime to lead Drake past Evansville in the opening round of the MVC Tournament. The Bulldogs set a tournament record by making 15 3-pointers. Wichita State held the previous mark of 14 set on March 3, 2003. Drake sank 15-of-27 from beyond the arc.
The Bulldogs made 10 three-point baskets in the first half en route to owning 51-47 halftime lead, marking the second most three-point baskets ever made in a half by Drake.
The combined 197 points were the most scored in MVC Tournament play since the tournament moved to St. Louis in 1991.
Freshman Josh Young led Drake with a then career-high 23 points, making a career-high five three-point baskets. Matt Webster paced eighth-seeded Evansville (14-17) with a game-high 29 points.
Trailing 88-86, Drake senior guard Nick Grant sent the game into overtime with a steal and dunk with 37 seconds left in regulation.
Evansville rallied from an eight-point second-half deficit and had a chance to win the game in regulation. But Webster, a 73.5 percent free-throw shooter, missed two foul shots with 5 seconds left in the second half with the game tied 88-88.
The Bulldogs scored the first four points of the extra period and never trailed. Korver, who finished with 18 points, also sank two foul shots with 9 seconds left to put Drake up 101-96.
Six different Drake players hit 3-pointers and five players scored in double figures. Grant had 16 points, Al Stewart had 15 points and Ajay Calvin added 14 for the Bulldogs.Jason Holsinger scored 26 points for Evansville.
The Bulldogs built an 80-72 lead with 6:45 left on a 3-pointer by Stewart. But Evansville charged back to take an 88-86 lead on a basket by Shy Ely with 1:20 to go. Grant tied the game for Drake on a slam dunk with 37 seconds left.
THE LAST VISIT: Evansville 78, Drake 57 (Dec. 28, 2006 Evansville, Ind.) ? Evansville shot a sizzling 68.4 percent from the floor in the second half to spoil Drake?s MVC opener. Drake shot a season-low 33.9 percent from the floor, including an ice cold 24.2 percent in the second half, making just eight of 33 shots.
Ajay Calvin, who entered the game leading the MVC in scoring (19.3 avg.), scored a season-low seven points while taking a season-low eight shots from the floor. Junior redshirt forward Klayton Korver led Drake with 17 points, tying a career high with four three-point baskets. Sophomore redshirt forward Jonathan Cox came off the bench to add 11 points for the Bulldogs.
Korver scored 15 of Drake?s first 22 points. After Korver?s fourth three-point basket of the first half pulled Drake within 22-20, Evansville went on a 9-2 run to grab a 31-22 advantage following a three-point basket by Kyle Anslinger with 6:13 left in the first half.
Cox scored seven straight points and Leonard Houston added a layup to tie the game at 31-31. But Evansville scored the last five points of the first half to grab a 36-31 lead. Drake made three three-point baskets in the opening 3:20 of the game ? all by Korver ? which eclipsed its entire output of two in the previous game against Jackson State. Korver had 10 points in the opening 3:20 of the game, surpassing entire output of its previous game (nine) vs. Jackson State.
The Purple Aces finished the game, shooting 52.1 percent from the floor, while also outrebounding Drake, 34-32. Korver, Calvin and senior guard Al Stewart led Drake with five rebounds apiece.
Drake 82, Evansville 79 (Feb. 21, 2007, Des Moines, Iowa) ? Guard Nick Grant scored six straight points in a two-minute span to break a 68-68 tie, lifting Drake in its home finale.
Grant, who was one of five seniors making their last appearance in a home uniform, scored a career high for the second straight game, finishing with 25 points. Drake tied a season high with 10 three point baskets as freshman guard Josh Young and junior reserve swingman Klayton Korver each drilled three three-point baskets.
Drake senior forward Ajay Calvin added 16 points, while Korver tallied 11 points. Young and senior guard Al Stewart scored 10 points apiece.
Senior center Aliou Keita grabbed a season-high 11 rebounds for Drake, while Stewart collected a career-high nine boards. Stewart also dished out seven assists.
Grant played a brilliant all-around game by collecting seven rebounds, four assists and three steals. Drake committed a season-low six turnovers, while scoring 18 points off 13 Evansville turnovers. A three-point basket by Young gave Drake a 38-24 lead with 3:59 left in the first half. Drake enjoyed a pair of 17-point leads in the second half. Two free throws by Grant with 12:27 left gave Drake a 61-44 cushion before Evansville took advantage of a scoring drought.
The Bulldogs went 8 minutes 21 seconds without scoring a basket, missing nine shots from the 15:01 mark to 6:39 left in the game.
Jason Holsinger had four three-point baskets to trigger a 16-1 run that pulled the Purple Aces within 62-60. Grant ended the Drake dry spell with a layup and free throw, while another free throw by Young pushed the Bulldog lead to 66-60. Holsinger?s last three-point basket of the game knotted the score at 68-68 with 5:02 left before Grant?s heroics.
GARNERING RESPECT: Drake enters the Evansville game ranked:
? No. 15 in the latest CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major poll
? No. 19 in the latest College Basketball Ratings Percentage Index
? No. 20 in the latest Sagarin NCAA basketball rating
? No. 35 in the latest Associated Press poll
WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES: Consider the turnarounds Drake has made this season in three-point shooting:
Drake ranked last in the Missouri Valley Conference in 2006-07 in three-point baskets made (6.06 avg.) as well as three-point field goal percentage (.329). However, the Bulldogs have seen their perimeter attack make a 360-degree turn this season, leading the conference averaging a league-high 9.6 treys. The Bulldogs rank third in the MVC in three-point field goal percentage (.378).
Drake has made at least 11 three-point baskets in five games.
Drake shot 52.4 percent (11-21) from three-point range in the victory against Iowa State. Drake shot 50 percent from beyond the three-point arc while making a season-high 13 treys in an 80-59 victory Nov. 24 against a Wisconsin-Milwaukee team which ranked first in the Horizon League in three-point field goal percentage defense at .218.
Those were the most treys by a Drake team since the Bulldogs made 13 in a Nov. 27, 2000, home game against Delaware State.
THE COACH: Keno Davis was named Drake?s 24th head men?s basketball coach on March 21, 2007, succeeding his father, Dr. Tom Davis, who retired as head coach but remains at Drake as a special assistant to the athletic director.
Keno Davis served six years as an assistant coach under former Drake head coach Gary Garner at Southeast Missouri State, before being named the first assistant to join the men?s basketball coaching staff at Drake under Tom Davis on May 19, 2003.
He also served as an assistant coach at Southern Indiana from 1995-97 under coach Bruce Pearl who is now the highly successful coach at the University of Tennessee. Keno earned a bachelor of arts degree in communications studies from the University of I
MAKING UP FOR LOST TIME: Senior guard Leonard Houston ranks fourth in the Missouri Valley Conference in scoring with a 14.9 average. He is averaging 16.3 points in seven home games, having scored a career high 23 points In home games against Cornell and Duquesne.
Keep in mind Houston had appeared in 79 career games entering this season without starting a game.
He scored a career-high 23 points in just 13 minutes of playing time in Drake?s home opener ? a 92-55 victory past Cornell College. Houston made eight of 11 shots from the floor, while collecting three steals, three rebounds and one assist.
He matched that career high with 23 points, including a career-high four three-point baskets, against Duquesne en route to leading Drake to the title in the Iowa Realty Invitational. Houston had a game-high 18 points in an 85-48 victory against North Carolina Central. Houston opened the season with a then career-high 21 points against UC San Diego.
YOUNG GUNS: Drake sophomore guard Josh Young leads the Missouri Valley Conference in scoring (17.9 avg) and three-point baskets (40-3.45 avg.), while ranking third in steals (28-2.3 avg.).
Young has made 35 three-point baskets in his last 10 games. When he hit six treys at Milwaukee Nov. 24 following a career-high seven three-point baskets against Cornell Nov. 14, Young became the first player in Drake history to make at least six three-point baskets in consecutive games.
Young has scored 23 or more points in four home games this season. He is coming off a career-high 24 against Southern Illinois Wednesday. He also had 23 in a 92-55 victory past Cornell, a 79-44 romp past Iowa State and an 83-53 win against Chicago State. All seven baskets against Cornell were beyond the three-point arc to mark the first time a Drake player made seven three-point baskets in a game since Dontaie Smith made seven treys against Wichita State Jan. 11, 2001.
After making six treys against Chicago State, Young is tied for No. 10 on the school career three-point basket list with 97 treys.
UNSUNG FRONTLINE DUO: Drake junior forwards Jonathan Cox and Brent Heemskerk might not be household names in the Missouri Valley Conference. But the duo are starting to draw attention.
Heemskerk leads the MVC in field goal percentage at 77.6 percent, making 38 of 49 shots. Cox is second in the MVC in rebounding (8.8 avg.) and third in the MVC in three-point field goal percentage (.467). Cox has enjoyed five double-doubles this season.
Heemskerk opened the season by making 16 of his first 17 shots from the field, including 11 straight baskets to start the campaign.
POINT OF ATTACK: Standing only 6-1, senior guard Adam Emmenecker?s primary duty is to run Drake?s offense in his first year as a starter. He tied a career high with five steals in the season opener against UC San Diego and equaled a career high in assists with seven in both games of the Iowa Realty Invitational.
But Emmenecker also is averaging 4.3 rebounds -- the most by any point guard in the MVC. He had a career-high eight rebounds in the MVC opener at Wichita State. He pulled down seven rebounds against Saint Mary?s, Cornell, Duquesne and Iowa State.
With 52 rebounds this season, Emmenecker has surpassed his entire 2006-07 season output of 33 boards.
MINI BUT MIGHTY: Drake might be one of the smaller teams in the Missouri Valley Conference but that hasn?t hampered the Bulldogs? ability to rebound.
Drake leads the MVC in rebounding margin at plus 5.3 per game (36.5 to 31.2 avg.). The Bulldogs have outrebounded eight of 12 opponents this season.
The Bulldogs outrebounded Milwaukee, 40-31. Milwaukee senior forward Torree Johnson, who had earned double-doubles (21.5 ppg, 10.3 rpg.) in his team?s initial four games, was held to nine points and a season-low six rebounds.
IT TAKES A THIEF: The Bulldogs lead the MVC in steals, averaging 10.6 per game. The Bulldogs have achieved double figures in steals in six games, collecting a season-high 15 steals in the opener against UC San Diego as well as Iowa State and Chicago State. Senior guard Adam Emmenecker tied a career high with five steals in the opener against UC San Diego. Leonard Houston and sophomore guard Josh Young had three steals apiece.
Houston and Emmenecker had three apiece against Iowa State. Drake has collected 14 in home games against Cornell and North Carolina Central. Drake collected 10 or more steals in nine games last year.
YOUNG LEADS WIN AGAINST DEFENDING MVC CHAMPS: Sophomore guard Josh Young tied a career-high with 24 points as Drake won its 10th straight game with a 61-51 victory past defending Missouri Valley Conference champion Southern Illinois Wednesday night.
Young scored 12 of Drake?s last 18 points as the Bulldogs improved their record to 11-1 while matching the best start in school history. The only other Drake team in history to open the season at 11-1 was the 1968-69 Final Four squad under coach Maury John.
Drake also snapped a 17-game losing streak to Southern Illinois, earning its first victory against the Salukis since a 64-60 triumph Feb. 17, 1999 in Des Moines. It also marked the first time Drake has opened the MVC season with a 2-0 record since the 1995-96 squad, under coach Rudy Washington, also started at 2-0 in the league.
Senior forward Klayton Korver added 13 points, including 10 in the first half for the Bulldogs who won their MVC home opener for the first time since the 2001-02 season. Drake senior guard Leonard Houston collected 12 points - all in the second half.
Trailing 8-7 Drake went on a 7-0 run to grab a 14-8 lead it would never relinquish. Young, who opened the game making his first three shots, including two three-point baskets, had five points to fuel the charge. Southern Illinois missed five shots and committed five turnovers during the same stretch.
Owning a 27-22 halftime lead, Drake opened the second period making five of its first six shots from the floor.
Houston led the charge by scoring 10 points in the opening five minutes 39 seconds of the second half to give Drake its biggest lead of the game at 43-30.
Then the Bulldogs went 8 minutes 12 seconds without scoring a basket, allowing the Salukis to cut the lead to 47-43 with 6:43 left following a three-point basket by reserve freshman forward Carlton Fay.
Drake?s pressure defense then forced Southern Illinois guard Bryan Mullins into three straight turnovers.
The Bulldogs took advantage with Young scoring five points off the miscues. A layup by Houston pushed Drake?s lead back to double digits at 54-43. Young had three steals giving him eight in the last two games.
Drake held Southern Illinois to 39.2 percent shooting from the floor, while forcing the Salukis into 18 turnovers. Houston led Drake with seven rebounds, while junior forward Jonathan Cox added six boards.
DOG TAGS: This marked the first time Drake has won 10 straight games since the 1969-70 team, under coach Maury John, won 11 straight games...Drake has won 10 straight home games - the longest winning streak in the 15-year history of the Knapp Center. It also is the third longest in school history, trailing winning streaks of 18 from 1962-64 and 23 from 1969-71.
SO MUCH FOR THAT LAYOFF: Any concerns that Drake might play sluggish in its MVC opener, following a 14-day layoff, were quickly erased at Wichita State Dec. 29. The Bulldogs had played just one game ? a 56-51 victory at Iowa Dec. 14 ? in a 20-day stretch before resuming action at Wichita State.
But Drake enjoyed a 30-25 halftime lead at Wichita State, building its advantage to as many as nine points in the second half.
It marked the second time Drake had earned a victory on the road this season following a long layoff. Drake rolled to an impressive 80-59 victory at Milwaukee Nov. 24 after being idle since Nov. 14.
COX KEYS MVC OPENING WIN: Junior Jonathan Cox scored 15 points ? all in the second half ? to lead Drake to its ninth straight win with a 62-54 victory at Wichita State last Saturday. He also had eight rebounds, including seven in the second half. He tied a career high with three three point baskets. Cox scored 11 points in a 3 minute 28 second span midway through the second half to give Drake a lead it would never relinquish.
With the score tied at 39-39, Cox hit two straight three point baskets to give Drake a 45-39 lead. After Wichita State pulled within 48-44, Cox scored five straight points, expanding the lead to 53-44.
Drake guard Josh Young scored a game-high 17 points, while collecting a career-high five steals.
HOMECOURT ADVANTAGE: Drake has won six of seven home games by 28 or more points including a 92-55 home opening win past Cornell (Iowa) College, an 85-48 victory against North Carolina Central and a 79-44 win against Iowa State.
DRAKE IN KNAPP CENTER: The Bulldogs have won their last 10 home games dating back to last year and their last 11 nonconference home games. Drake owns a 120-92 home record in the 15-year history of the Drake Knapp Center. Drake is the only private school in the Missouri Valley Conference which plays its home games on an on-campus site.
YOUNG NAMED MVC PLAYER OF WEEK: Drake sophomore guard Josh Young was named the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week Dec. 10 after averaging 20 points while leading the Bulldogs to three victories. He also shot 57.8 percent (11-of-19) from three-point range, while moving into No. 11 on the school career three-point basket list at 92.
He had 23 points, including four three-point baskets, while equaling a career high in rebounds (five) along with one steal in a 79-44 home victory past Iowa State.
Young then collected 23 points, including six treys while equaling a career high in rebounds (five), along with setting a career high in steals (four) in an 83-53 first-round victory against Chicago State in the Drake Regency Classic.
Young added 14 points and three steals while keying Drake to an 83-55 victory past Texas-Pan American in the championship of the Drake Regency Classic. He also was named to the Drake Regency Classic All-Tournament team.
ASSISTS PILE UP: After collecting a season-high 21 assists at Milwaukee Nov. 24, the Bulldogs eclipsed that figure with 22 against North Carolina Central Nov. 30.
Senior guard Adam Emmenecker collected a career-high seven assists against North Carolina Central. Senior guard Leonard Houston collected a career-high six assists at Milwaukee, while senior guard Klayton Korver dished out a season-high four assists.
DRAKE IN MVC OPENERS: With a victory at Wichita State, Drake improved its record to 35-58 in its Missouri Valley Conference openers (15-32 road/20-26 home) and this marks the third straight year the Bulldogs have played their MVC opener on the road. The last time Drake won its MVC opener occurred in 2005-06 when it claimed a 79-68 victory at Evansville Dec. 28, 2005.
BIG FOUR IN-STATE SUCCESS: Drake has won eight straight games against an Iowa college or university dating back to last year (Waldorf, Iowa State-twice, Iowa-twice, UNI-twice, Cornell). The Bulldogs will continue the Big Four instate rivalry playing host to Northern Iowa Jan. 26 before traveling to UNI Feb. 16
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EVANSVILLE REPORT http://www.gopurpleaces.com/custompages/Mens Basketball/2007-08 Stats/UE Game Notes 1-6-08.pdf
at EVANSVILLE (5-7, 0-2 MVC)
2:05 p.m., Sunday, Jan. 6, 2008
Roberts Stadium, Evansville, Ind.
DRAKE REPORT
PROBABLE STARTING LINEUP
Drake Bulldogs: 11-1, 2-0 MVC (Coach: Keno Davis, first year)
Pos. Player (Ht., Yr., Hometown) PPG RPG FG% FT%
G-5 Leonard Houston (6-3, Sr., Holland, Mich.) 14.9 4.0 .480 .760
G-15 Adam Emmenecker (6-1, Sr., Saginaw, Mich.) 3.6 4.3 .458 .656
G-20 Josh Young (6-1, So., Lawton, Okla.) 17.9 2.8 .461 .750
F-24 Klayton Korver (6-5, Sr., Pella, Iowa) 8.7 3.8 .312 .800
F-31 Jonathan Cox (6-8, Jr., Barrington, Ill.) 10.8 8.6 .474 .800
Top Reserves
F-2 Alex White (6-6, Jr., Albuquerque, N.M.) 3.8 3.1 .519 .375
F-4 Brent Heemskerk (6-8, Jr., Grand Rapids, Mich.) 7.1 3.4 .776 .563
G-11 Jacob Baryenbruch (6-0, Jr., Spring Green, Wis.) 1.6 0.7 .300 .667
G-23 Josh Parker (6-0, Fr., Harvey, Ill.) 2.7 1.3 .333 .750
F-50 John Michael Hall (6-5, Jr., Moultrie, Ga.) 4.3 2.0 .379 .778
THE SETTING: Drake will play its third road game in the last four outings when it travels to Evansville Sunday. The last time these two schools played they combined for 26 three-point baskets with the Bulldogs setting a Missouri Valley Conference tournament record with 15 treys en route to 101-96 overtime win last March 1 in St. Louis, Mo.
The Bulldogs will be out to avenge a 78-57 loss suffered in their last appearance at Evansville in the 2006-07 MVC opener.
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.
TELEVISION: The Drake-Evansville game will be televised on FoxSports Midwest and Comcast Chicago with Dan McLaughlin and Charlie Spoonhour describing the action.
A START TO REMEMBER: Drake?s 11-1 mark equals the best start in school history through 12 games. The 10-game winning streak marks the first time Drake has won 10 straight games since the 1969-70 team, under coach Maury John, won 12 straight games. A combination of factors ? rebounding, hot shooting, defense ? have been instrumental in the Bulldogs? current nine-game winning streak:
?Drake is outrebounding opponents, 37.2 to 31.8
?Drake is averaging 10.2 steals, while forcing opponents into an average of 19.5 turnovers ?Drake is outscoring opponents, 75.8 to 54.3
?Drake is averaging 9.9 three-point baskets per game
?Drake is limiting opponents to 38.9 percent shooting from the floor
?Three players are shooting better than 50 percent from the floor, led by junior reserve forward Brent Heemskerk, who is shooting 75 percent (33-44) in his last 10 games
?Drake has won all six home games by an average margin of 25.9 points, including four games by 30 or more points, highlighted by a 79-44 victory against Iowa State Dec. 5 which is the largest Bulldog victory margin in the 167 games played between the schools.
EARLY SUCCESS STARTS WITH SENIORS: Although graduation claimed four senior starters from last year?s 17-15 team, veteran leadership has been the biggest key in Drake?s 11-1 start. Seniors ? Adam Emmenecker, Leonard Houston and Klayton Korver have combined to appear in 261 Drake games during their career. Then there?s fourth-year Drake juniors Jonathan Cox and Brent Heemskerk who have combined to appear in 149 games.
GETTING DEFENSIVE: Improved defensive play has been a key to Drake?s 11-1 start. Drake has held its last 10 opponents ? Cornell, Milwaukee, North Carolina Central, Duquesne, Iowa State, Chicago State, Texas-Pan American, Iowa, Wichita State, Southern Illinois ? to a combined 38.8 percent shooting from the floor, making 179 of 461 shots.
?Drake forced Southern Illinois All-MVC guard Bryan Mullins into a season-high 7 turnovers.
?The Bulldogs held Wichita State to a home season-low 54 points.
?The Bulldogs held Iowa State to 44 points ? its lowest output since Feb. 2, 2003, when it scored 43 against Texas Tech.
?Drake held Duquesne, which was the nation?s top scoring offensive team (95.9 ppg avg.), To 22.9 points below its scoring average, en route to winning the Iowa Realty Invitational title with a 77-73 victory.
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The Bulldogs limited Milwaukee to a season-low 32.8 percent shooting (19-58).
THE SERIES: In a series which started in 1995, Evansville owns a 15-12 advantage, but Drake has won 11 of the last 15 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 seven of the last nine games, sweeping the 2004-05 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 101, Evansville 96 overtime (March 1, 2007, St. Louis, Mo.) ? Junior Klayton Korver hit a 3-pointer with 47 seconds left in overtime to lead Drake past Evansville in the opening round of the MVC Tournament. The Bulldogs set a tournament record by making 15 3-pointers. Wichita State held the previous mark of 14 set on March 3, 2003. Drake sank 15-of-27 from beyond the arc.
The Bulldogs made 10 three-point baskets in the first half en route to owning 51-47 halftime lead, marking the second most three-point baskets ever made in a half by Drake.
The combined 197 points were the most scored in MVC Tournament play since the tournament moved to St. Louis in 1991.
Freshman Josh Young led Drake with a then career-high 23 points, making a career-high five three-point baskets. Matt Webster paced eighth-seeded Evansville (14-17) with a game-high 29 points.
Trailing 88-86, Drake senior guard Nick Grant sent the game into overtime with a steal and dunk with 37 seconds left in regulation.
Evansville rallied from an eight-point second-half deficit and had a chance to win the game in regulation. But Webster, a 73.5 percent free-throw shooter, missed two foul shots with 5 seconds left in the second half with the game tied 88-88.
The Bulldogs scored the first four points of the extra period and never trailed. Korver, who finished with 18 points, also sank two foul shots with 9 seconds left to put Drake up 101-96.
Six different Drake players hit 3-pointers and five players scored in double figures. Grant had 16 points, Al Stewart had 15 points and Ajay Calvin added 14 for the Bulldogs.Jason Holsinger scored 26 points for Evansville.
The Bulldogs built an 80-72 lead with 6:45 left on a 3-pointer by Stewart. But Evansville charged back to take an 88-86 lead on a basket by Shy Ely with 1:20 to go. Grant tied the game for Drake on a slam dunk with 37 seconds left.
THE LAST VISIT: Evansville 78, Drake 57 (Dec. 28, 2006 Evansville, Ind.) ? Evansville shot a sizzling 68.4 percent from the floor in the second half to spoil Drake?s MVC opener. Drake shot a season-low 33.9 percent from the floor, including an ice cold 24.2 percent in the second half, making just eight of 33 shots.
Ajay Calvin, who entered the game leading the MVC in scoring (19.3 avg.), scored a season-low seven points while taking a season-low eight shots from the floor. Junior redshirt forward Klayton Korver led Drake with 17 points, tying a career high with four three-point baskets. Sophomore redshirt forward Jonathan Cox came off the bench to add 11 points for the Bulldogs.
Korver scored 15 of Drake?s first 22 points. After Korver?s fourth three-point basket of the first half pulled Drake within 22-20, Evansville went on a 9-2 run to grab a 31-22 advantage following a three-point basket by Kyle Anslinger with 6:13 left in the first half.
Cox scored seven straight points and Leonard Houston added a layup to tie the game at 31-31. But Evansville scored the last five points of the first half to grab a 36-31 lead. Drake made three three-point baskets in the opening 3:20 of the game ? all by Korver ? which eclipsed its entire output of two in the previous game against Jackson State. Korver had 10 points in the opening 3:20 of the game, surpassing entire output of its previous game (nine) vs. Jackson State.
The Purple Aces finished the game, shooting 52.1 percent from the floor, while also outrebounding Drake, 34-32. Korver, Calvin and senior guard Al Stewart led Drake with five rebounds apiece.
Drake 82, Evansville 79 (Feb. 21, 2007, Des Moines, Iowa) ? Guard Nick Grant scored six straight points in a two-minute span to break a 68-68 tie, lifting Drake in its home finale.
Grant, who was one of five seniors making their last appearance in a home uniform, scored a career high for the second straight game, finishing with 25 points. Drake tied a season high with 10 three point baskets as freshman guard Josh Young and junior reserve swingman Klayton Korver each drilled three three-point baskets.
Drake senior forward Ajay Calvin added 16 points, while Korver tallied 11 points. Young and senior guard Al Stewart scored 10 points apiece.
Senior center Aliou Keita grabbed a season-high 11 rebounds for Drake, while Stewart collected a career-high nine boards. Stewart also dished out seven assists.
Grant played a brilliant all-around game by collecting seven rebounds, four assists and three steals. Drake committed a season-low six turnovers, while scoring 18 points off 13 Evansville turnovers. A three-point basket by Young gave Drake a 38-24 lead with 3:59 left in the first half. Drake enjoyed a pair of 17-point leads in the second half. Two free throws by Grant with 12:27 left gave Drake a 61-44 cushion before Evansville took advantage of a scoring drought.
The Bulldogs went 8 minutes 21 seconds without scoring a basket, missing nine shots from the 15:01 mark to 6:39 left in the game.
Jason Holsinger had four three-point baskets to trigger a 16-1 run that pulled the Purple Aces within 62-60. Grant ended the Drake dry spell with a layup and free throw, while another free throw by Young pushed the Bulldog lead to 66-60. Holsinger?s last three-point basket of the game knotted the score at 68-68 with 5:02 left before Grant?s heroics.
GARNERING RESPECT: Drake enters the Evansville game ranked:
? No. 15 in the latest CollegeInsider.com Mid-Major poll
? No. 19 in the latest College Basketball Ratings Percentage Index
? No. 20 in the latest Sagarin NCAA basketball rating
? No. 35 in the latest Associated Press poll
WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES: Consider the turnarounds Drake has made this season in three-point shooting:
Drake ranked last in the Missouri Valley Conference in 2006-07 in three-point baskets made (6.06 avg.) as well as three-point field goal percentage (.329). However, the Bulldogs have seen their perimeter attack make a 360-degree turn this season, leading the conference averaging a league-high 9.6 treys. The Bulldogs rank third in the MVC in three-point field goal percentage (.378).
Drake has made at least 11 three-point baskets in five games.
Drake shot 52.4 percent (11-21) from three-point range in the victory against Iowa State. Drake shot 50 percent from beyond the three-point arc while making a season-high 13 treys in an 80-59 victory Nov. 24 against a Wisconsin-Milwaukee team which ranked first in the Horizon League in three-point field goal percentage defense at .218.
Those were the most treys by a Drake team since the Bulldogs made 13 in a Nov. 27, 2000, home game against Delaware State.
THE COACH: Keno Davis was named Drake?s 24th head men?s basketball coach on March 21, 2007, succeeding his father, Dr. Tom Davis, who retired as head coach but remains at Drake as a special assistant to the athletic director.
Keno Davis served six years as an assistant coach under former Drake head coach Gary Garner at Southeast Missouri State, before being named the first assistant to join the men?s basketball coaching staff at Drake under Tom Davis on May 19, 2003.
He also served as an assistant coach at Southern Indiana from 1995-97 under coach Bruce Pearl who is now the highly successful coach at the University of Tennessee. Keno earned a bachelor of arts degree in communications studies from the University of I
MAKING UP FOR LOST TIME: Senior guard Leonard Houston ranks fourth in the Missouri Valley Conference in scoring with a 14.9 average. He is averaging 16.3 points in seven home games, having scored a career high 23 points In home games against Cornell and Duquesne.
Keep in mind Houston had appeared in 79 career games entering this season without starting a game.
He scored a career-high 23 points in just 13 minutes of playing time in Drake?s home opener ? a 92-55 victory past Cornell College. Houston made eight of 11 shots from the floor, while collecting three steals, three rebounds and one assist.
He matched that career high with 23 points, including a career-high four three-point baskets, against Duquesne en route to leading Drake to the title in the Iowa Realty Invitational. Houston had a game-high 18 points in an 85-48 victory against North Carolina Central. Houston opened the season with a then career-high 21 points against UC San Diego.
YOUNG GUNS: Drake sophomore guard Josh Young leads the Missouri Valley Conference in scoring (17.9 avg) and three-point baskets (40-3.45 avg.), while ranking third in steals (28-2.3 avg.).
Young has made 35 three-point baskets in his last 10 games. When he hit six treys at Milwaukee Nov. 24 following a career-high seven three-point baskets against Cornell Nov. 14, Young became the first player in Drake history to make at least six three-point baskets in consecutive games.
Young has scored 23 or more points in four home games this season. He is coming off a career-high 24 against Southern Illinois Wednesday. He also had 23 in a 92-55 victory past Cornell, a 79-44 romp past Iowa State and an 83-53 win against Chicago State. All seven baskets against Cornell were beyond the three-point arc to mark the first time a Drake player made seven three-point baskets in a game since Dontaie Smith made seven treys against Wichita State Jan. 11, 2001.
After making six treys against Chicago State, Young is tied for No. 10 on the school career three-point basket list with 97 treys.
UNSUNG FRONTLINE DUO: Drake junior forwards Jonathan Cox and Brent Heemskerk might not be household names in the Missouri Valley Conference. But the duo are starting to draw attention.
Heemskerk leads the MVC in field goal percentage at 77.6 percent, making 38 of 49 shots. Cox is second in the MVC in rebounding (8.8 avg.) and third in the MVC in three-point field goal percentage (.467). Cox has enjoyed five double-doubles this season.
Heemskerk opened the season by making 16 of his first 17 shots from the field, including 11 straight baskets to start the campaign.
POINT OF ATTACK: Standing only 6-1, senior guard Adam Emmenecker?s primary duty is to run Drake?s offense in his first year as a starter. He tied a career high with five steals in the season opener against UC San Diego and equaled a career high in assists with seven in both games of the Iowa Realty Invitational.
But Emmenecker also is averaging 4.3 rebounds -- the most by any point guard in the MVC. He had a career-high eight rebounds in the MVC opener at Wichita State. He pulled down seven rebounds against Saint Mary?s, Cornell, Duquesne and Iowa State.
With 52 rebounds this season, Emmenecker has surpassed his entire 2006-07 season output of 33 boards.
MINI BUT MIGHTY: Drake might be one of the smaller teams in the Missouri Valley Conference but that hasn?t hampered the Bulldogs? ability to rebound.
Drake leads the MVC in rebounding margin at plus 5.3 per game (36.5 to 31.2 avg.). The Bulldogs have outrebounded eight of 12 opponents this season.
The Bulldogs outrebounded Milwaukee, 40-31. Milwaukee senior forward Torree Johnson, who had earned double-doubles (21.5 ppg, 10.3 rpg.) in his team?s initial four games, was held to nine points and a season-low six rebounds.
IT TAKES A THIEF: The Bulldogs lead the MVC in steals, averaging 10.6 per game. The Bulldogs have achieved double figures in steals in six games, collecting a season-high 15 steals in the opener against UC San Diego as well as Iowa State and Chicago State. Senior guard Adam Emmenecker tied a career high with five steals in the opener against UC San Diego. Leonard Houston and sophomore guard Josh Young had three steals apiece.
Houston and Emmenecker had three apiece against Iowa State. Drake has collected 14 in home games against Cornell and North Carolina Central. Drake collected 10 or more steals in nine games last year.
YOUNG LEADS WIN AGAINST DEFENDING MVC CHAMPS: Sophomore guard Josh Young tied a career-high with 24 points as Drake won its 10th straight game with a 61-51 victory past defending Missouri Valley Conference champion Southern Illinois Wednesday night.
Young scored 12 of Drake?s last 18 points as the Bulldogs improved their record to 11-1 while matching the best start in school history. The only other Drake team in history to open the season at 11-1 was the 1968-69 Final Four squad under coach Maury John.
Drake also snapped a 17-game losing streak to Southern Illinois, earning its first victory against the Salukis since a 64-60 triumph Feb. 17, 1999 in Des Moines. It also marked the first time Drake has opened the MVC season with a 2-0 record since the 1995-96 squad, under coach Rudy Washington, also started at 2-0 in the league.
Senior forward Klayton Korver added 13 points, including 10 in the first half for the Bulldogs who won their MVC home opener for the first time since the 2001-02 season. Drake senior guard Leonard Houston collected 12 points - all in the second half.
Trailing 8-7 Drake went on a 7-0 run to grab a 14-8 lead it would never relinquish. Young, who opened the game making his first three shots, including two three-point baskets, had five points to fuel the charge. Southern Illinois missed five shots and committed five turnovers during the same stretch.
Owning a 27-22 halftime lead, Drake opened the second period making five of its first six shots from the floor.
Houston led the charge by scoring 10 points in the opening five minutes 39 seconds of the second half to give Drake its biggest lead of the game at 43-30.
Then the Bulldogs went 8 minutes 12 seconds without scoring a basket, allowing the Salukis to cut the lead to 47-43 with 6:43 left following a three-point basket by reserve freshman forward Carlton Fay.
Drake?s pressure defense then forced Southern Illinois guard Bryan Mullins into three straight turnovers.
The Bulldogs took advantage with Young scoring five points off the miscues. A layup by Houston pushed Drake?s lead back to double digits at 54-43. Young had three steals giving him eight in the last two games.
Drake held Southern Illinois to 39.2 percent shooting from the floor, while forcing the Salukis into 18 turnovers. Houston led Drake with seven rebounds, while junior forward Jonathan Cox added six boards.
DOG TAGS: This marked the first time Drake has won 10 straight games since the 1969-70 team, under coach Maury John, won 11 straight games...Drake has won 10 straight home games - the longest winning streak in the 15-year history of the Knapp Center. It also is the third longest in school history, trailing winning streaks of 18 from 1962-64 and 23 from 1969-71.
SO MUCH FOR THAT LAYOFF: Any concerns that Drake might play sluggish in its MVC opener, following a 14-day layoff, were quickly erased at Wichita State Dec. 29. The Bulldogs had played just one game ? a 56-51 victory at Iowa Dec. 14 ? in a 20-day stretch before resuming action at Wichita State.
But Drake enjoyed a 30-25 halftime lead at Wichita State, building its advantage to as many as nine points in the second half.
It marked the second time Drake had earned a victory on the road this season following a long layoff. Drake rolled to an impressive 80-59 victory at Milwaukee Nov. 24 after being idle since Nov. 14.
COX KEYS MVC OPENING WIN: Junior Jonathan Cox scored 15 points ? all in the second half ? to lead Drake to its ninth straight win with a 62-54 victory at Wichita State last Saturday. He also had eight rebounds, including seven in the second half. He tied a career high with three three point baskets. Cox scored 11 points in a 3 minute 28 second span midway through the second half to give Drake a lead it would never relinquish.
With the score tied at 39-39, Cox hit two straight three point baskets to give Drake a 45-39 lead. After Wichita State pulled within 48-44, Cox scored five straight points, expanding the lead to 53-44.
Drake guard Josh Young scored a game-high 17 points, while collecting a career-high five steals.
HOMECOURT ADVANTAGE: Drake has won six of seven home games by 28 or more points including a 92-55 home opening win past Cornell (Iowa) College, an 85-48 victory against North Carolina Central and a 79-44 win against Iowa State.
DRAKE IN KNAPP CENTER: The Bulldogs have won their last 10 home games dating back to last year and their last 11 nonconference home games. Drake owns a 120-92 home record in the 15-year history of the Drake Knapp Center. Drake is the only private school in the Missouri Valley Conference which plays its home games on an on-campus site.
YOUNG NAMED MVC PLAYER OF WEEK: Drake sophomore guard Josh Young was named the State Farm Missouri Valley Conference Player of the Week Dec. 10 after averaging 20 points while leading the Bulldogs to three victories. He also shot 57.8 percent (11-of-19) from three-point range, while moving into No. 11 on the school career three-point basket list at 92.
He had 23 points, including four three-point baskets, while equaling a career high in rebounds (five) along with one steal in a 79-44 home victory past Iowa State.
Young then collected 23 points, including six treys while equaling a career high in rebounds (five), along with setting a career high in steals (four) in an 83-53 first-round victory against Chicago State in the Drake Regency Classic.
Young added 14 points and three steals while keying Drake to an 83-55 victory past Texas-Pan American in the championship of the Drake Regency Classic. He also was named to the Drake Regency Classic All-Tournament team.
ASSISTS PILE UP: After collecting a season-high 21 assists at Milwaukee Nov. 24, the Bulldogs eclipsed that figure with 22 against North Carolina Central Nov. 30.
Senior guard Adam Emmenecker collected a career-high seven assists against North Carolina Central. Senior guard Leonard Houston collected a career-high six assists at Milwaukee, while senior guard Klayton Korver dished out a season-high four assists.
DRAKE IN MVC OPENERS: With a victory at Wichita State, Drake improved its record to 35-58 in its Missouri Valley Conference openers (15-32 road/20-26 home) and this marks the third straight year the Bulldogs have played their MVC opener on the road. The last time Drake won its MVC opener occurred in 2005-06 when it claimed a 79-68 victory at Evansville Dec. 28, 2005.
BIG FOUR IN-STATE SUCCESS: Drake has won eight straight games against an Iowa college or university dating back to last year (Waldorf, Iowa State-twice, Iowa-twice, UNI-twice, Cornell). The Bulldogs will continue the Big Four instate rivalry playing host to Northern Iowa Jan. 26 before traveling to UNI Feb. 16
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EVANSVILLE REPORT http://www.gopurpleaces.com/custompages/Mens Basketball/2007-08 Stats/UE Game Notes 1-6-08.pdf
