Drexel's Bid For an Upset of Top-Ranked Duke Falls Just Short, 78-68

Wednesday, November 23

Madison Square Garden

TBA

Drexel University

Duke

Drexel's Bid For an Upset of Top-Ranked Duke Falls Just Short, 78-68

11/23/2005 12:00:00 AM

Box Score

New York, N.Y.--Dominick Mejia and Bashir Mason combined for 40 points as Drexel's upset bid against Duke fell just short, 78-68 in front of a nationally-televised audience on ESPN2. Drexel (3-1) had a one-point lead early in the second half and was down by only six with 1:02 and had possession of the ball, but the Blue Devils made four free throws in the final 23 seconds to escape the Garden with a win. Drexel will now face 16th-ranked UCLA, who lost to Memphis in the other semifinal game, on Friday at 4:30 p.m. in the NIT Season Tip-Off consolation game. Duke will face Memphis in the NIT Championship.

The Dragons and Blue Devils played an exciting first half which featured 20 lead changes and 10 ties. Duke scored the first four points of the game, but Drexel went on a mini-run and led 16-11 with just under 13 minutes to play in the half. Duke countered and went ahead, but Drexel stayed close the entire half and went to intermission trailing by only a point at 41-40. Mejia scored 14 of his 25 points in the first half and made four three-pointers in the half. Bashir Mason had another solid game at the point. Mason pushed the pace and made the Blue Devils play a more up tempo game than they are accustomed to playing. He finished with 15 points, seven rebounds and five assists.

Drexel also won the battle of the boards. The Dragons outrebounded the top-ranked team in the country, 40-30. Drexel had 16 offensive rebounds. Chaz Crawford had nine rebounds for Drexel and also swatted away three shots.

Duke's All-America J.J. Redick scored 31 points, despite shooting just 8-for-19 from the floor. He was 13-for-15 from the charity stripe. Shelden Williams scored 20 points and had nine rebounds for Duke.