Drexel Downs Kent State in BracketBusters Game at the DAC, 73-66

Friday, February 18

Daskalakis Athletic Center

9:00

Drexel University

Kent State

Samme Givens scored 17 points and had 15 rebounds vs. Kent State

Drexel Downs Kent State in BracketBusters Game at the DAC, 73-66

2/18/2011 11:56:46 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Philadelphia, Pa. – Samme Givens paced five players in double figures with 17 points and 15 rebounds as Drexel defeated Kent State, 73-66, in front of a capacity crowd at the Daskalakis Athletic Center. The game was shown live on ESPNU as part of BracketBusters. The Dragons improved to 18-9, while Kent State fell to 17-9.

Drexel broke open a close game with a 16-0 run late in the first half to take a 15-point lead at 40-25. Givens started the run with a three-point play. During that stretch, the Dragons made two three-pointers and held the Golden Flashes scoreless for four minutes. Chris Fouch had eight points during the run, including three from the foul line after he was fouled on a long-range attempt. Drexel shot 55 percent in the first half and was aided by some poor Kent State free-throw shooting. The Golden Flashes missed the front end of one-and-ones on two occasions during their scoreless stretch and went to the half down 42-30

Kent State cut Drexel's lead to seven points on three occasions as the Dragons cooled off from the floor. Randal Holt hit a three-pointer to make it 58-51 with just under six minutes left in the game. Fouch answered with a pair of free throws and a runner in the lane to get the Dragons' lead back to double digits. Two minutes later, Kent State's Carlton Guyton made a pair of free throws as the Golden Flashes sliced the deficit to 63-56. Again, Drexel came down and scored the next four points to extend the lead. The Dragons made six of eight free throws in the final 1:08 to pick up their 11th home win of the season.

Givens, who recorded his ninth double-double of the year, was 8-for-12 from the floor. Fouch added 15 points, while Gerald Colds and Derrick Thomas chipped in with 13 and 12 points, respectively. Freshman Dartaye Ruffin had his second straight double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds.

Guyton led Kent State with 17 points. Michael Porrini scored 12 points and Mid-American Player of the Year candidate Justin Greene added 11 points and 15 rebounds. The Dragons' big men, mainly Daryl McCoy and Ruffin, held Greene to just 4-for-16 shooting. Overall, the Golden Flashes shot 36 percent from the floor.

Drexel hosts VCU on Wednesday night at the DAC. It will be senior night, marking the final home appearance for Gerald Colds, Yannick Formbor and Ronald Colbert.