Drexel University Athletics
Drexel University
Loyola (Md.)
Elegar Named MVP as Dragons Defeat Loyola to Win the Philly Hoop Group Classic Liberty Bracket
11/24/2007 5:54:45 PM | Men's Basketball
Philadelphia, Pa. – Frank Elegar scored 21 points and Evan Neisler (Raleigh, N.C./Boston College) had two key plays in the final minutes as Drexel (5-1) defeated Loyola (Md.), 54-52, in the championship game of the Liberty Bracket in the Philly Hoop Group Classic. The Dragons went on an 18-0 run early in the second half to take control of the game and held off a late Loyola run to edge the Greyhounds.
Loyola trailed by as many as 11 points in the second half, but began chipping away at the lead down the stretch. When Gerald Brown sank a long three-pointer with the shot clock expiring, the Greyhounds (4-3) trailed by just three with 2:36 remaining. Drexel turned the ball over on the next possession and Brown had a lay-up swatted away by Neisler at the 1:34 mark. Neisler also grabbed the defensive board. Drexel freshman Jamie Harris had a short jumper bounce off the rim on the next offensive possession, and again Neisler came up big. He grabbed the offensive board and jammed it home on a put back with less than a minute to play to make it a five-point lead.
The Greyhounds cut it to two with 28 seconds left when Brett Harvey converted all three free throws after an ill-advised foul by Harris on a long-range attempt. With the Greyhounds pressing, Neisler fed Elegar for a breakaway dunk to make it a 51-47 game. Brown drained another three pointer with 16 seconds left, but Elegar hit a pair of freebies and Scott Rodgers (Philadelphia, Pa./Central) made one of two free throws in the final 13 seconds to seal the victory.
Loyola scored on it first possession of the second half to take a seven-point lead, but the Dragons countered with an 18-0 run as they held the Greyhounds (4-3) without a point for a span of 7:28 and took a 38-27 lead. Elegar had nine of his 21 points and Gerald Colds knocked down a pair of three pointers during the run.
The Drexel defense continued its stellar play as it held Loyola to just 30 percent shooting from the floor. The Dragons have not allowed an opponent to shoot better than 40 percent this season and it was the fourth game the Dragons allowed less than 60 points.
Elegar finished the game 8-for-14 from the floor and was the Most Valuable Player, despite playing just 21 minutes due to foul trouble. He was also 5-for-6 from the line. Colds added nine points, all coming via the three-point shot. Brown led the Greyhounds with 16 points. Michael Tuck had a double-double with 12 points and 14 rebounds.
The Dragons are off until Thursday, when they open Colonial Athletic Association play at George Mason. The Patriots are the preseason favorites in the CAA. Game time is set for 7 p.m. and the game can be seen on Comcast SportsNet. The game will also be broadcast overt the web at www.drexeldragons.com.
