Men's Basketball Falls to Saint Joseph's in Overtime, 77-67

Friday, November 13

Philadelphia

7:00

Drexel University

Saint Joseph's

Men's Basketball Falls to Saint Joseph's in Overtime, 77-67

11/13/2009 11:26:37 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Philadelphia – Saint Joseph's scored the final 10 points of the game and defeated Drexel, 77-67, in overtime in the first game at Hagan Arena. It was the season-opener for both teams.

Jamie Harris led Drexel with 20 points, including 12 in the second half. The junior was 6-for-6 from the line and had two three-pointers. Leon Spencer was 7-for-11 from the floor and had a double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds. Freshman Derrick Thomas, starting in his first collegiate game, had four three-pointers and 14 points.

The Hawks took the lead for good with 44 seconds to play when Todd O'Brien grabbed an offensive rebound and scored the go-ahead bucket. Drexel turned the ball over on the next possession and Kevin Phillip committed an intentional foul on Darrin Govens on a lay-up. The basket counted, Govens made two free throws and the Hawks took possession again and Govens made two more free throws seven seconds later to ice the game. Govens led all players with 23 points.

The teams went to overtime tied at 62. The Hawks trailed, 60-57, but tied the game with 14.6 left. Idris Hilliard was rejected by Leon Spencer, but the ball bounced out to a wide-open Darrin Govens, who nailed a three to tie it up. Jamie Harris sank a pair of free throws with nine seconds left to give the Dragons a lead, but it didn't last long as Garrett Williamson made a jumper from the free throw line to tie it with 3.7 seconds to play. Harris raced up court and took a three-pointer from the top of the key that bounced off the rim as time ran out in regulation.

The Dragons trailed by just two at half, 31-29, despite starting the game 0-for-10 from the floor. Drexel got on the board at the 15:47 mark when Leon Spencer made one of two from the line. The Dragons finally got their first bucket just over five minutes into the game when Derrick Thomas scored on a lay-up.

Saint Joseph's shot 42 percent in the first half, but Drexel forced 10 Hawks' turnovers to keep it close. Idris Hilliard led the Hawks with 13 points and was 9-for-9 from the line in the first half. Spencer led Drexel with eight points and seven boards in the first 20 minutes.

The Hawks were 33 of 42 from the charity stripe and had 30 of those attempts in the second half and overtime. Drexel was just 12-for-20 from the line. The Dragons outrebounded Saint Joseph's, 45-34, and had 16 offensive caroms. However, the Dragons committed 23 turnovers, 15 coming in the second half and overtime.
The Dragons are off until Tuesday, when they play a rare 8 a.m. game at Niagara University. Drexel and the Purple Eagles will take part in ESPN's College Hoops Tip-Off Marathon, which features more than 24 consecutive hours of televised basketball on the network.