Drake claims first MVC tournament title with rout

Mar 10, 2008 - 12:22 AM By PA SportsTicker

Drake had very few problems continuing a remarkable season.

The 21st-ranked Bulldogs officially clinched their first NCAA Tournament berth since 1971, rolling past second-seeded Illinois State, 79-49, in the Missouri Valley Conference championship game on Sunday.

It was Drake's first appearance in the title game in the 32-year history the MVC tournament after it snapped an 0-4 showing in the semifinals with a 75-67 victory over Creighton on Saturday.

The top-seeded Bulldogs (28-4) also posted consecutive wins for the first time in the 32-year history of the MVC tournament.

"Obviously it's an understatement to say I'm proud of this team, what they've been able to accomplish not only in the regular season but after doing that to come down here to St. Louis and win on three consecutive days," Drake coach Keno Davis said. "It's quite a feat that they've been able to do, but they surprise me every day. I don't know when they're going to stop surprising me, but I don't want it to stop.

"Incredible group of young men, and they deserve all the rewards and awards they've been given."

Behind junior forward Jonathan Cox, Drake took control against Illinois State in the first half. Cox had 12 of his 20 points before the break as the Bulldogs went on a 22-2 run for a 40-19 cushion at the intermission.

The conference's Player of the Year, Adam Emmenecker scored 16 points as Drake shot an impressive 56 percent (30-of-54) from the field.

Emmenecker also handed out six assists en route to being named the tournament's MVP.

The Bulldogs also added on to their newly-established school record for wins in a season, becoming the first No. 1 seed to win the MVC tournament since 1998.

"It's not a position that we've had a chance to be in too much over the last four years," Emmenecker said. "It's really special for us as players just to see that all the work we've put in together and individually has really paid off, and that we can be a championship team, and we played so well together. I'm so proud of all these guys."

It was a memorable turnaround for Drake, which was picked to finish ninth out of 10 teams in the league's preseason poll.

"It's an unbelievable feeling to be picked ninth in the preseason and to win the league and win this tournament," Drake guard Josh Young said. "It's hard to put into words how great it feels."

Drake was the only team on Sunday to clinch an automatic berth to the NCAA Tournament, becoming the fifth of the 31 to do so within the next week.

On Saturday, Winthrop booked its fourth straight trip to the NCAAs by winning the Big South championship. Also, Austin Peay claimed the Ohio Valley Conference title and Belmont won its third straight Atlantic Sun crown.

Cornell was the first team to claim an automatic bid on March 1 en route to completing a perfect season in the Ivy League. The Ivy League is the only Division I conference that does not host a postseason tournament.