Men's Basketball Overpowered in Loss to James Madison Thursday, 78-56

Thursday, February 4

Daskalakis Athletic Center

7:00

Drexel University

3-19 (1-10CAA)

James Madison

17-7 (7-4CAA)

JAMES MADISON

DREXEL

Photo by: Gavin Baker

Men's Basketball Overpowered in Loss to James Madison Thursday, 78-56

2/4/2016 8:53:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA – Following its best offensive performance of the season, the Drexel men's basketball team struggled to find its rhythm Thursday night at the Daskalakis Athletic Center in a 78-56 loss to James Madison.

Drexel (3-19, 1-10 CAA) managed to shoot at just a 28.3-percent clip, going 17-for-60 from the floor. The Dukes (17-7, 7-4 CAA) shot 49.2-percent as they were able to overpower the Dragons, outscoring Drexel 38-16 in the paint and outrebounding Drexel, 49-35. Yohanny Dalembert, the Lower Merion High School product, led the Dukes on the glass with 13 to go along with 15 points and three blocks.

Kazembe Abif recorded his fourth double-double of the season with 10 points and 10 boards. He has now scored in double figures in each of his last five games. Sammy Mojica tied a career high with three threes, as he led Drexel with a dozen points.

The Dragons jumped out to a quick start on the Dukes, something Drexel did not do in the first this year in Harrisonburg. Getting early threes from Mojica and Tavon Allen, the Dragons grabbed a 13-4 advantage five and a half minutes in. Allen scored 11 and had five assists and two steals, but shot 4-for-15 on the night.

However, James Madison flipped the switch, holding Drexel scoreless for nearly five minutes before Rodney Williams hit a free throw at the 8:07 mark. The Dukes went on an 11-0 run in that span, and extended it to a 19-3 run before Terrell Allen knocked one down from deep with 4:41 to go in the half. James Madison would then go on another run, this time 11-2, taking a 36-23 lead into the locker room.

The Dukes would continue their push, extending the lead to as many as 24 in the second half. New Jersey native Ron Curry, who came into the game leading the Dukes in scoring at 16.2 points per game, scored 16 points to lead the way to the 78-56 win. Shakir Brown would add 13 points and 8 rebounds for Matt Brady's squad.

Drexel will finish out the week on the road at College of Charleston Saturday at 4 p.m. The Dragons defeated the Cougars at the DAC, 61-54, on Jan. 9.