Dragons Come From Behind Wednesday to Edge Lafayette, 68-67

Wednesday, November 29

Daskalakis Athletic Center

7 p.m.

Drexel University

3-4

Lafayette

0-6

LAFAYETTE

DREXEL

Photo by: Derik Hamilton

Dragons Come From Behind Wednesday to Edge Lafayette, 68-67

11/29/2017 8:55:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA - A furious comeback late in the second half capped by an Austin Williams slam with 13 seconds remaining propelled the Drexel men's basketball team to a 68-67 victory Wednesday night at the Daskalakis Athletic Center over Lafayette. The Dragons improve to 3-4 with the win, while the Leopards fall to 0-6 on the year.

The Dragons struggled to break through the Lafayette 2-3 zone throughout the first half, but began to find holes in it in the second half. However, Drexel found itself trailing by eight with less than three minutes to play. That was when the Dragons' defense locked in and Tramaine Isabell went to work on the offensive end. Trailing 64-56, Drexel capitalized on four straight Lafayette turnovers, including two shot clock violations, with seven straight points from Isabell. After a free three throw from Williams and two more from Kurk Lee, the Dragons found themselves holding a 66-64 lead with 40 seconds left. Justin Jaworski then converted an and-one on the other end that looked like it could be the end of Drexel's comeback bid. Going back the other way, Isabell missed a long three from the top of the key, but Sammy Mojica tipped the ball right back out to Isabell on the rebound. Isabell then zipped a bullet pass to Williams on the low block for the flush and the 68-67 lead. Jaworski found himself with one more chance with a short jumper from the right side, but Williams made the biggest of his three blocks, swatting the shot and preserving the victory.

Drexel was able to weather a field goal-less drought of more than seven minutes in the second half. The Dragons trailed by 11 points, 43-32, five minutes into the second half. They would then reel off three-pointers on the next five possessions, two from Mojica and one apiece from Isabell, Alihan Demir and Lee to pull to a 47-all tie at the 11:39 mark. However, that is when the cold streak would hit. The Dragons did not make another field goal until the 4:19 mark of the half when Demir converted on a lay-in. To the Dragons' credit, they were able to keep Lafayette from running away with the game and were able to right the ship and come back for the win.

The Dragons could not find an answer for the Lafayette zone in the first half, shooting 30 percent overall and 1 for 12 from three. On the game they were held to 36.7 percent overall and 22.6 from deep, while Lafayette shot 46.9 percent from the field and 45.0 percent from three. Drexel was able to convert from the line on the night to keep Lafayette from growing too large of a lead during the cold streaks from the field, finishing 17 for 23.

Isabell led the Dragons with 19 points and had eight rebounds and four assists, including the key dime on Williams' game-winning dunk. Williams had his second double-double of the season with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Demir chipped in with 12 points and six rebounds, while Mojica finished with 10 points and some timely defensive plays down the stretch, helping Drexel force 15 turnovers. Jaworski led Lafayette with 24 points on 9 for 14 shooting from the field. Matt Klinewski, the Leopards' top scorer, added 17 points. Both guys made three triples.

The Dragons will remain in Philadelphia and host Rider on Saturday afternoon at the Daskalakis Athletic Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 4 p.m.