Drexel University Athletics
Drexel University
Delaware
Givens, Harris Lead Drexel Past Delaware, 79-69
1/20/2009 10:26:32 PM | Men's Basketball
Philadelphia, Pa. – Samme Givens scored a career-high 19 points off the bench and Jamie Harris added 14 points and five assists as Drexel defeated Delaware, 79-69. It was the fourth straight win for the Dragons, who improved to 5-3 in CAA play and 9-8 overall.
The Dragons led for most of the game, but could not pull away from the Blue Hens (8-12, 2-6 CAA) until the final five minutes of play. Givens came up big midway late in the game with 10 points in a span of less than five minutes. His three-point play with 2:13 left to play gave the Dragons a 66-57 lead. Delaware couldn't get the lead under six points the rest of the way as the Dragons made seven of their eight free throws in the final minute.
Givens finished 7-for-9 from the floor and was also 5-for-6 from the line. Harris played all 40 minutes and picked up three steals while committing just one turnover. The Dragons' bench scored 38 points, as Leon Spencer chipped in with 11 points and Tramayne Hawthorne had eight points including a pair of three-pointers. Alphonso Dawson scored 20 to lead all scorers for Delaware. Marc Egerson added 14, but was limited to just 3-for-11 from the field.
Delaware jumped out to an early 6-2 lead to start the game. After struggling offensively early in the first half, the Dragons closed the half with a 12-1 run to take the lead for good. They held the Blue Hens without a field goal for the last 5:37 of the first half and went into halftime ahead 33-25.
The Dragons entered the game with a streak of 32 straight free throws made, but that was short lived as Scott Rodgers, who finished with 10 points, missed a pair of free throws in the early going. Drexel finished the game with a season-best 17 assists and had just seven turnovers.
Drexel continues its three-game homestand on Saturday afternoon against William & Mary in a game that can be seen live on Comcast SportsNet. Tip-off is set for 4 p.m. at the Daskalakis Athletic Center.
