Dragons Fall at Loyola on Thursday, 66-62

Thursday, December 21

Baltimore, Md.

7 p.m.

Drexel University

6-7

Loyola (Md.)

2-8

Drexel

Loyola Maryland

Photo by: Kevin Rossi

12/21/2017 8:52:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

BALTIMORE, Md. - Drexel closed the non-conference portion of its schedule Thursday night with a 66-62 loss to Loyola (Md.) at Reitz Arena. The Dragons trailed by eight early in the second half but chipped away and took the lead. However, the Greyhounds were able to answer and put the game away with a breakaway lay-up in the closing seconds. Drexel falls to 6-7, while Loyola is now 2-8. Kurk Lee led the Dragons with 20 points despite a 7-for-22 shooting night from the floor. Sammy Mojica added 16, while Austin Williams scored 10 points, grabbed 14 rebounds and swatted five shots.

The Dragons held the Greyhounds without a field goal for more than eight minutes and tied the game up at 47-47 on a Tadas Kararinas three-pointer with just under nine minutes to go. The game would remain close the rest of the way. The Dragons led by one at 58-57 with 3:38 to go, but would make just one field goal the rest of the way. Cam Gregory's dunk for a three-point play with 3:21 gave Loyola the lead for good. The Dragons had their chances and trimmed the deficit to 64-62 with 25 ticks remaining on the clock. After a timeout, Chuck Champion broke free for the game-clinching lay-in as the Greyhounds picked up their second win of the season.

Drexel struggled from the floor for most of the night. The Dragons shot just 33 percent, including 26 percent over the final 20 minutes. Drexel was only 8-for-22 from beyond the three-point stripe and just 6-for-11 from the line. The Greyhounds, on the other hand, shot 48 percent. The Dragons were able to stay in the game due in large part to turnovers. The Dragons committed just nine, while forcing Loyola into 15 miscues.

Champion led Loyola with 21 points. Isaiah Hart was the only other Greyhound in double figures with 10 points. Gregory pulled down 16 rebounds for Loyola.

The Dragons are off for a few days before they get ready to start Colonial Athletic Association play. Drexel will visit Elon on Dec. 30 then open 2018 with a visit to UNCW.