Dragons Come up Short in Second Game in Alaska

Friday, November 27

Anchorage, Alaska

6:00

Drexel University

0-5

Alaska Anchorage

Drexel

Alaska Anchorage

Photo by: Gavin Baker

Dragons Come up Short in Second Game in Alaska

11/27/2015 8:20:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Anchorage, Alaska – Idaho transfer Sekou Wiggs scored a game-high 33 points as the University of Alaska Anchorage knocked off Drexel at Alaska Airlines Arena, 71-65, at the Great Alaska Shootout. The host, a Division II school, has now defeated at least one Division I team in 29 of the last 32 seasons.

In what has been an unpleasant trend all season, the Dragons (0-5) fell behind early and struggled from the free throw line. Drexel trailed by as many as 11 points in the first half and finished the game shooting 11-for-22 from the free throw line.

Sammy Mojica was a bright spot in the loss for the Dragons. The sophomore had a career-high 20 points. He also knocked down three three-pointers, handed out six assists and grabbed six rebounds. Tavon Allen scored 16 points, grabbed eight rebounds and handed out three assists in the game. Sophomore Rashann London added 11 points.

The Seawolves opened the game by scoring the first 10 points, all by Wiggs. The Dragons didn't get on the board until Tavon Allen sank a three-pointer a little more than four minutes into the game. Again, just like Thursday, the Dragons chipped away and tied it up. Mojica scored on a lay-up with just under five minute to play in the half to even it at 23-23. UAA closed the half by making a three-pointer with 20 seconds to go which gave them a four point lead at the break.

Drexel went on a 9-0 run early in the second half to briefly take the lead. Tavon Allen nailed two three-pointers in that stretch and a free throw thanks to a technical foul on the Anchorage coach. Allen concluded the run by throwing a baseball pass to a streaking Rodney Williams for a dunk, putting Drexel up 50-48.

The Seawolves went ahead for good when Wiggs drained a three-pointer with 8:41 to go, putting UAA ahead 58-56. The game would remain close the rest of the way. Drexel trailed by just four after a Rodney Williams free throw with 3:58 to play, but Alaska Anchorage came up with two stops and made four straight free throws to take and eight-point lead with just over two minutes to play. They held on to hand the Dragons their fifth-straight loss to start the season.

Rodney Williams led the Dragons with 10 rebounds. The junior had nine points and three blocks. Sophomore Tyshawn Myles grabbed a season-high nine rebounds and also had three blocks. Drexel outrebounded the Seawolves, 49-38, but gave up 16 offensive rebounds which led to 15 second chance points.

Wiggs was 7-for-17 from deep. The Dragons made him work for his points as he shot the ball 27 times in the game. Corey Hammell quietly had an effective game. Despite going just 1-for-9 from the field, he scored 14 points (12 from the line) and had 12 rebounds. Drexel's defense held UAA to just 30 percent shooting, but put the Seawolves on the line 30 times. They responded by making 22 of their free throw attempts.

The Dragons will play one more game in Alaska on Saturday before heading back to Philadelphia. They will play the University of San Diego on Saturday at noon Alaska Standard Time, which is 4 p.m. back in Philadelphia.