Drexel Uses Big First Half to Defeat Toledo, 69-59

Saturday, November 28

Daskalakis Athletic Center

4:30

Drexel University

Toledo

Samme Givens scored seven points while grabbing 10 rebounds in the Dragons' victory over Toledo

Drexel Uses Big First Half to Defeat Toledo, 69-59

11/28/2009 6:32:39 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

The Drexel men's basketball team raced out to an early lead and defeated Toledo, 69-59, in a Legends Classic game at the Daskalakis Athletic Center. It was the third-straight win for the Dragons, who improved to 3-3.

Jamie Harris had another solid game, leading the team with 19 points. The junior has now scored 69 points in three games this week. Harris was 6-for-11 from the floor, 6-for-6 from the line and handed out four assists. Samme Givens led the club with a season-high 10 rebounds and also chipped in with seven points and five assists. Chris Fouch added 11 points and was perfect in three long-range attempts.

The Dragons opened the contest with a 14-2 run and never trailed in the game. Drexel maintained a balanced offense in the early going as seven different players scored the team's first seven buckets. Gerald Colds scored on a three-point play with 32 seconds left to give the Dragons a 41-19 lead at the half. Drexel's bench played a key role in the first half, scoring 22 points in the first 20 minutes. Toledo (0-5) shot just 30 percent in the first half.

The Rockets tried to get back in the game got the Dragons' lead down to eight on three occasions late in the second half but could get no closer. Drexel made five of six free throws to seal the contest.

Jake Barnett led the Rockets with 17 points, 15 of them coming in the second half, and nine rebounds. The Rockets outrebounded the Dragons, 42-31, but for the fifth time in six games, Drexel held its opponents to under 39 percent shooting. Drexel freshman Daryl McCoy matched a career-high with nine rebounds, while Colds notched a career-best five assists.

Drexel concludes the Legends Classic with a game against Cornell tomorrow, following the Vermont-Toledo contest which starts at noon. Cornell has also won both of its games in the Classic, including a 67-59 win against Vermont earlier this afternoon.