Lee's Big Night Propels Drexel Past Mason in Front of a Sell Out at the DAC, 60-53

Thursday, January 12

Daskalakis Athletic Center

8:00

Drexel University

George Mason

Damion Lee tied a career-high with 21 points in the win

Lee's Big Night Propels Drexel Past Mason in Front of a Sell Out at the DAC, 60-53

1/12/2012 10:11:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Philadelphia – Drexel's Damion Lee scored 16 of his 21 points in the second half as the Dragons defeated George Mason, 60-53, in front of a capacity crowd at the Daskalakis Athletic Center. The Dragons remained unbeaten at home this season and won for the ninth time in its last 10 games. They also ended the Patriots 18 game CAA winning streak.

Drexel (11-5, 3-2) trailed 47-45 with 6:11 remaining in the game before Lee heated up. The freshman tied it on a jumper and after George Mason (12-5, 4-1) went ahead on a pair of free throws, made the first of three straight three-pointers as the Dragons turned a deficit into a five-point lead with 2:49 to play. He had 11 straight points for the Dragons. Mason, who came into the game undefeated in CAA play and alone in first place, cut the lead to three when Mike Morrison scored on a lay-up with just over a minute to play in regulation. Drexel missed its next shot and the Patriots had the ball down by just one possession. Bryon Allen missed a jump shot and Samme Givens came up with a big rebound. He got the ball to Derrick Thomas who was fouled and went to the line. The junior calmly sank both to put Drexel ahead, 58-53. Mason came down and Ryan Pearson missed a three-pointer. Givens gathered the rebound and sank two from the line after being fouled as the Dragons won for the 10^th straight time on their home court.

Mason entered play on Thursday as the highest scoring team in the CAA. The Drexel defense responded to the challenge, holding the high-powered offense to 53 points, the second lowest total for Mason the entire season. Morrison was the only Patriot to reach double digits in scoring, finishing the game with 10 points. The Dragons once again controlled the boards, outrebounding Mason, 41-30. Drexel had 18 offensive rebounds, including six from Daryl McCoy, who finished with nine overall. Dartaye Ruffin added eight rebounds.

Lee's 21 points tied a career-high set in the Paradise Jam against Norfolk State. He was 8-for-14 shooting and was 4-for-9 from deep. The freshman also had four steals. Frantz Massenat chipped in with 12 points for Drexel, but struggled from the floor most of the night. He did make two of his five three-point attempts and did not commit a turnover in 39 minutes. Thomas had eight points and four assists. Drexel won despite shooting just 36 percent from the floor. The Dragons did sink six three-pointers and were 12-for-16 from the line.

Givens and Pearson, two of the top players in the league, found themselves covering each other for almost the entire night. Givens was only able to get off four shots, making three of them, and scoring eight points. He had 10 rebounds and moved into third place on the school's career rebounding list with 893 boards. Pearson shot just 1-for-9 from the floor and finished with four points. He led Mason with 11 rebounds.

Drexel heads south to face UNC Wilmington on Saturday night. The Dragons will also play at Hofstra next Wednesday before returning to the DAC to play Northeastern on Jan. 21.