Dragons Narrowly Defeat Hofstra, 56-50, for Fifth Straight Win

Wednesday, January 18

Hempstead, N.Y.

7:00

Drexel University

Hofstra

Frantz Massenat had 10 points, 10 rebounds and six assists at Hofstra

Dragons Narrowly Defeat Hofstra, 56-50, for Fifth Straight Win

1/18/2012 9:12:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Hempstead, N.Y. . – Drexel held off a pesky Hofstra team to pick up its fifth straight victory, a 56-50 decision against the Pride. Drexel made four free throws in the final 25 seconds to improve to 13-5 overall and 5-2 in Colonial Athletic Association play.

Drexel's four-point lead late evaporated when Mike Moore made the only Hofstra (6-13, 0-7) three-pointer of the game with 34 seconds to play. On Drexel's next possession, Frantz Massenat made one of two free throws with :25 to play to put Drexel up, 52-50. The Pride tried to tie it, but Massenat took a charge on Mike Moore with just 17 seconds left. That foul was the fifth and disqualifying foul for Moore, the CAA's leading scorer. The Pride was then forced to foul and Damion Lee was sent to the line. The freshman hit both to increase Drexel's lead to 54-50. Hofstra went to the basket, but Massenat blocked a shot, threw the ball to halfcourt where Lee broke in alone and emphatically slammed home a dunk to end the game.

Massenat had his first double-double of his career, scoring 10 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. He also had six assists and two blocks. Chris Fouch led the team with 13 points. Daryl McCoy snared 11 rebounds as the Dragons once again controlled the paint, outrebounding the Pride, 41-35.

Hofstra opened the second half with a 7-1 game to cut the lead to two. The game went back and forth for the next 13 minutes, with Drexel not being able to pull away and the Pride unable to catch Drexel. At the 7:37 mark, Samme Givens was whistled for a foul on Hofstra's Shemiye McLendon. McLendon made both free throws as the Pride went ahead for the first time in the second half at 40-39. Drexel went ahead moments later on a Fouch three-pointer but the game remained tight the rest of the way.

In the first half both teams struggled to find any offensive rhythm. The Pride made its first three shots but then missed 12 in a row as Drexel took the lead. The Dragons' went on a 14-1 run during that time and held Hofstra without a field goal for a span of 11:52. Both teams eventually settled in and Drexel took a 29-21 lead to intermission. Massenat and Fouch each had seven points in the first half. Massenat eclipsed his career-high with eight boards in the first 20 minutes.

Drexel struggled from the field the entire night, shooting just 38 percent in the game. The Dragons uncharacteristically missed 11 free throws, but Hofstra returned the favor by missing 10 free throws. The Pride shot just 39 percent from the floor and made just one of its 13 long-range attempts.

The Dragons head back to Philadelphia to face Northeastern on Saturday afternoon. That game can be seen live on The Comcast Network beginning at 4 p.m.