Drexel University
Niagara
Neisler Hits Career Highs But Niagara Escapes with 67-62 Victory
12/18/2008 9:18:41 PM | Men's Basketball
Philadelphia, Pa. –Drexel's Evan Neisler contributed career-highs of 15 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks while Scott Rodgers poured in a season-high 19 points but it was not enough as Niagara pulled out a 67-62 victory. With just seconds remaining, Rodgers had a potential game-tying three pointer bounce off the rim as the Purple Eagles improved to 8-2 on the season while the Dragons dipped to 2-4.
With Niagara clinging to a 63-62 lead, Neisler picked up a key defensive rebound with 30 seconds remaining but was whistled for travelling. The Purple Eagles inbounded the ball as the Dragons were forced to foul Tyrone Lewis who sank both of his free throws. On the ensuing Drexel possession, Rodgers fired a shot from the left side of the arc that missed to the left and Neisler's put-back attempt rolled off the rim as Niagara's Benson Egemonye picked up the rebound and was fouled with just five seconds remaining. Egemonye converted the two free throws to seal the victory.
The game was tightly contested throughout as neither team held a lead of more than five points while the Dragons went into halftime with a 30-28 advantage. Drexel struggled from beyond the arc connecting on just two of its 15 attempts but the Dragons used offensive rebounding to keep pace. Eight of Neisler's 13 boards came on the offensive end while Samme Givens and Leon Spencer added six and five offensive rebounds, respectively. Givens, making his first career collegiate start, pulled down a career-high 12 total rebounds in the game. It was the second straight game he reached double figures on the glass. As a team, Drexel outrebounded Niagara, 52-35.
Lewis led Niagara with 22 points while Egemonye contributed 19 points. Bilal Benn, a Villanova transfer, recorded 16 points. Both teams shot similarly from the floor as Drexel connected on 35.9 percent of its attempts while the Purple Eagles shot 35.2 percent.
The Dragons will play their next six games away from home. The stretch begins on Saturday with a road game at Bucknell at 5 p.m. Drexel will depart after the game to Tennessee and face the No. 23 Memphis Tigers on Monday afternoon at 1 p.m. Eastern time.
