Drexel Bench Leads Dragons Past Hofstra, 65-60

Saturday, January 29

Hempstead, N.Y.

4:00

Drexel University

Hofstra

Dartaye Ruffin's Double-Double Led Drexel Past Hofstra

Drexel Bench Leads Dragons Past Hofstra, 65-60

1/29/2011 6:07:03 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Hempstead, N.Y. – Freshman Dartaye Ruffin scored 15 points, grabbed a career-high 14 rebounds and made two free throws with 9.7 seconds left as Drexel defeated Hofstra on the road, 65-60. The Dragons (14-7, 6-5 CAA) held off a late Hofstra (14-8, 8-3) rally to pick up their third win in four games. Drexel's bench scored 35 points in the game.

Drexel led 59-51 with just over four minutes to play, but the Pride scored the next seven points to cut the lead to 59-56. Charles Jenkins set up a Brad Kelleher three-pointer, made a steal and then fed Mike Moore for a lay-up, prompting Bruiser Flint to call time out. After the timeout, Drexel failed to score and Jenkins was fouled and made both ends of a one-and-one.

Drexel answered when Samme Givens scored on a spinning jumper with 1:31 left to make it 61-58, but Hofstra's David Imes grabbed an offensive board on the next possession and put it back in to cut the lead to one with 1:17 left. The Dragons called time to set up a play but Chris Fouch was called for traveling, giving the Pride possession with under a minute to go. Jenkins came down and drove the lane, but his pass was deflected and a scramble resulted in a jump ball which went to Drexel with 39 seconds remaining. The Pride committed three quick fouls to get over the limit and force Drexel to the line. Chris Fouch knocked down a pair of free throws with 27 seconds to play giving the Dragons a three-point lead. Hofstra had a chance to tie it, but Moore missed a three-pointer with just 10 seconds left and Ruffin grabbed the board. The rookie made both ends of a one-and-one to ice the game.

Hofstra trailed by as many as 12 points in the first half, but the Pride ended the half by outscoring Drexel, 8-1 over the final two minutes. Moore, who scored 16 points in the first half, had all eight of Hofstra's points, including a pair of three-pointers. Drexel led at the break, 35-30, despite some of the team's key players playing limited minutes in the first half. Samme Givens only played seven minutes and Derrick Thomas logged just nine minutes as each player picked up two fouls early. The Dragons had 21 of their 30 points come from the bench in the first half. Fouch scored 12 points in the early going. Yannick Formbor also made a contribution off the bench. The fifth-year senior played 11 minutes, grabbed four boards and scored on a put-back. Drexel had 10 offensive rebounds in the first half.

Drexel entered the game fourth in the nation in rebound margin and improved on that with another outstanding performance. The Dragons had 20 offensive boards and outrebounded the Pride, 47-24. Drexel entered the game 11th in the CAA in free throw shooting, but clinched the game at the line, making 17 of its 22 attempts (.773). Ruffin was 5-for-6 from the stripe.

Fouch led the team with 18 points. Ruffin was the only other Dragon in double figures. He recorded his third career double-double. Samme Givens had another 10-rebound game despite playing only 23 minutes.

Moore led Hofstra with 20 points and Jenkins added 19 points. Jenkins sank two free throws midway through the second half, making him the school's all-time leading scorer. The Pride shot just 38 percent from the floor and was 4-for-17 from long range.

Drexel is off until Wednesday night, when the Dragons host Towson at the Daskalakis Athletic Center. Game time is set for 7 p.m.