Drexel University
N.C. State
N.C. State Pulls Out 63-56 Win Over Drexel in the First Round of the NIT
3/13/2007 10:10:31 PM | Men's Basketball
Philadelphia—North Carolina State ended the game with an 11-2 run and defeated Drexel, 63-56, in the First Round of the National Invitation Tournament at the sold-out Daskalakis Athletic Center. The Dragons ended their season with a 23-9 record, the most wins for the program since the 1995-96 team won 27 games.
The Wolfpack trailed 54-52 with 2:56 to play. Engin Atsur started the run with two free throws and Ben McCauley gave the Wolfpack (19-15) the lead for good at the 2:13 mark with a free throw. Brandon Costner scored on a three-point play to increase the lead to 58-54. Elegar tried to get Drexel back in it with a basket and a foul with :58 to play, but missed a foul shot and the Dragons season came to an end. The Dragons were their own worst enemy during the Wolfpack comeback by making just five of their 12 free throws in the second half, and just two of eight down the stretch.
Elegar led the way for Drexel with 24 points. He was 10-for-12 from the floor and added seven rebounds. Senior Dominick Mejia (Voorhees, N.J./Eastern), playing in his final game, was the only other Dragon in double figures with 11 points. Chaz Crawford (Philadelphia, Pa./Hargrave Military) had nine rebounds but played only 24 minutes due to foul trouble. Senior Bashir Mason (Jersey City, N.J./St. Benedict's) had five assists and three steals in his final game as a Dragon.
N.C. State had four players in double figures. Atsur had 18 and was 7-for-8 from the line. McCauley scored 16 points and had 12 rebounds, while Gavin Grant and Courtney Fells each scored 10 points. The Wolfpack will advance to the second round to face the winner of the Oklahoma State-Marist game.
