Late Elon Surge Too Much as Dragons Fall Thursday, 81-76

Thursday, February 18

Daskalakis Athletic Center

7:00

Drexel University

3-23 (1-14CAA)

Elon

15-13 (6-9CAA)

ELON

DREXEL

Photo by: Greg Carroccio

Late Elon Surge Too Much as Dragons Fall Thursday, 81-76

2/18/2016 8:42:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA – A late Elon surge proved to be too much for the Drexel men's basketball team as the Dragons fell, 81-76, Thursday night to the Phoenix at the Daskalakis Athletic Center.

Down 62-57 with 8:52 remaining, the Phoenix went on a 15-2 run to swing the five-point deficit into an eight-point advantage. Elon shot a scorching 18-for-24 from the field in the second half and 58 percent for the game. The Phoenix knocked down 10 of its 17 long-range attempts, led by Tanner Samson's four three balls to lead the Phoenix with 19 points.

The Dragons would not go away, though. A Terrell Allen layup chipped the deficit down to 77-72 before two Tavon Allen free throws got the Dragons within a bucket with 20 seconds remaining. However, Samson sealed it, hitting all four of his free throw attempts in the final 17 seconds.

After taking a 35-32 lead into halftime, the two teams traded buckets when play resumed in the second half. Rodney Williams scored eight of his 10 in the first four and a half minutes of the half, but Elon was just beginning to heat up. The Phoenix hit on its first five attempts of the half to take a 43-39 lead after a Samson three. The Dragons would go on a 13-5 run to regain a 52-48 lead until Tyler Seibring chipped into it with a couple of threes before the Phoenix went on the 15-2 run that proved to be the difference in the game. Seibring, a freshman, finished with a dozen.

Drexel came out of the gates with high energy, and it translated on the court. Playing loose, the Dragons built a lead to as many as 10 when they led 31-21 with five minutes to go after Te. Allen found Ta. Allen for the open three for one of his seven assists, which tied a career high. The Phoenix would chip away after the under-four media timeout, closing the half on an 11-4 burst, capped by a Steven Santa Ana trey as the clock wound down. Ta. Allen scored the last 10 points for the Dragons in the half, and Drexel recorded an assist on 10 of its 14 made buckets.

The Dragons had one of their best offensive games of the year, shooing 52 percent from the floor. Te. Allen led four Dragons in double figures with 18 points on 8-for-11 and added two steals. Kazembe Abif tied a career high with 16 points, 10 of which came in the first half, and added nine boards. Ta. Allen totaled 17 points and had five assists. Austin Williams gave head coach Bruiser Flint quality minutes off the bench, blocking a career-high three shots, grabbing four boards and drawing a charge.

Elon had five in double digits as well, led by Samson's 19 points. Brian Dawkins totaled 14 points, Dmitri Thompson had 11 points and seven boards and Santa Ana had 10 points.

The Dragons (3-23, 1-14 CAA) will head next to Williamsburg, Va. to take on William & Mary on Saturday at 2 p.m.