Dragons Drop Heartbreaker at Hofstra, 79-77

Saturday, February 4

Hempstead, N.Y.

7:00

Drexel University

8-17 (2-10CAA)

Hofstra

12-13 (4-8CAA)

Drexel

Hofstra

Photo by: Greg Carroccio

2/4/2017 9:01:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Hempstead, N.Y. - Hofstra rallied from a 10-point deficit with 1:48 to play and stunned Drexel, 79-77. The Dragons missed a front end of a one-and-one and a pair of free throws in the final minute and Justin Wright-Foreman sank the game-winning three-pointer with :20 seconds to play to give the Pride the unlikely win at the Mack Sports Complex.

The Dragons (8-17, 2-10 CAA) scored on back-to-back possessions late as John Moran fed Rodney Williams twice, both for dunks, to put Drexel ahead 77-67, with just 1:15 to go. On the next possession Eli Pemberton nailed a three-pointer, trimming the deficit to seven. The Dragons got the ball in and once it got in Austin Williams' hands, Hofstra (12-13, 4-8) fouled right away. Williams went to the line and missed the front end of a one-and-one. The Pride raced up court and found Brian Bernardi for another three-pointer to make it 77-73. Drexel got the ball in and this time Kurk Lee was fouled. The freshman missed both of his free throws and Hofstra again got into the frontcourt in a hurry. This time Deron Powers was fouled by Moran and he made a pair at the line as the Pride got within a bucket. Drexel tried to get the ball inbounds, but Lee was called for a hold as he came to get the inbound pass. That would be his fifth foul and Hofstra would get a chance to tie or take the lead. Hofstra got the ball to Wright-Foreman who made the three-pointer giving the Pride the lead. Kari Jonsson had the Dragons' last real chance but his jump shot would not fall and Hofstra iced it with a Pemberton free throw with two seconds to go. He missed the second and Rodney Williams grabbed the board and let a three-quarter court desperation heave go that would not fall.

Drexel opened up a 13-point lead in the second half with a 10-0 run midway through. Rodney Williams and Mohamed Bah scored on consecutive possessions inside. The defense came up with a solid stretch of four and a half minutes without allowing a point and Moran nailed two three-pointers putting the visitors up 61-48.

Rodney Williams led all players with 26 points. He had 18 of his 26 in the second half and was 10-for-12 from the line. Lee had a big first half for the Dragons with 17 of his 19 points in the first half. Austin Williams had 12 of his 16 points before intermission. He tied his career-high with 16 points. The Dragons were solid on the glass all night. They outrebounded the Pride, 40-26, and narrowly outshot Hofstra, 48 percent to 47. The Pride sank 14 three-pointers in the contest. Powers and Wright-Foreman each scored 20 points, while Pemberton finished with 16 points.

The Dragons finally return home after closing this three-game road trip. Drexel will play four of its final six CAA games at the Daskalakis Athletic Center. That stretch begins on Thursday when William & Mary makes its annual visit. Tip-off is at 7 p.m.