Drexel University Athletics
Drexel University
Delaware
Dragons Struggle From the Line in 67-63 Loss to Delaware
1/5/2008 7:09:46 PM | Men's Basketball
Philadelphia, Pa. - Frank Elegar (Bronx, N.Y./St. Raymond's) had career-highs with 33 points and 17 rebounds, but Drexel made only 15 of its 31 free throws in a 67-63 loss to Delaware at the Daskalakis Athletic Center. The Dragons (8-7, 1-2 CAA) led by as many as 10 in the second half before Delaware mounted a late comeback to improve to 3-0 in CAA play and 6-7 overall.
Drexel pounded the ball inside to Elegar the entire game and the senior put up big numbers for most of the contest. The Blue Hens stayed in the game by converting on the Dragons miscues from the line. During a stretch midway through the second half, the Dragons missed seven straight free throws and allowed Delaware to tie the game. The Hens shot 52 percent after the break and had four three-pointers in the second half.
Delaware went ahead for good when Marco Cooper scored on a lay-up with 3:14 to play to make it 60-58. After Elegar made one of two from the line, Herb Courtney scored to give Delaware a three-point lead with 2:21 remaining. Scott Rodgers (Philadelphia, Pa./Central) was fouled on the next possession and again the Dragons were only able to make one of their two attempts. Edwin Santiago hit a jumper to put the Blue Hens up 64-60 and they hung on to beat Drexel at the DAC for the first time since the 1999-2000 season.
Alphonso Dawson led the way for the Blue Hens with 18 points. He was 6-for-10 from the floor and perfect in five attempts from the line. Courtney added 14 points and seven rebounds, while sophomore Brian Johnson handed out 11 assists without a turnover and had three steals.
Elegar was 13-for-21 shooting from the field but made only seven of his 17 attempts from the charity stripe. He also had four blocked shots in the game. Rodgers was the only other Dragons in double figures with 13 points. The Dragons, who had a season-low 11 turnovers, made only two three pointers, both by Rodgers.
The Dragons are on the road for the next week as the U.S. Olympic and National Team Trials -Tennis come to the Daskalakis Athletic Center. Drexel will play at Northeastern on Wednesday night and at Towson next Saturday before returning home.
