Drexel's Season Comes to an End in CAA Quarterfinals

Sunday, March 4

North Charleston, S.C.

12:00 p.m.

Drexel University

13-20

College of Charleston

24-7

Drexel

Col. of Charleston

Photo by: Colonial Athletic Association

Drexel's Season Comes to an End in CAA Quarterfinals

3/4/2018 1:46:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

North Charleston, S.C. – Drexel gave top-seeded Charleston all it could handle, but the Cougars (24-7) prevailed with a 66-59 win against the Dragons in the Colonial Athletic Association quarterfinals held at the North Charleston Coliseum. The Dragons (13-20) led by nine in the second half, but the Cougars went on a 13-0 run late in the second half to advance to the semifinals.

Drexel opened the second half on a 21-9 run. The run was capped off by the Dragons scoring nine straight points. Alihan Demir had four points in the stretch, including a bucket on a put back after a Charleston block. Tramaine Isabell went 1-for-2 from the line, and Drexel led 48-39 with 10:50 to play. However, the Cougars answered with a 13-0 run and held Drexel scoreless for a span of 6:40 before Isabell finally drained a three to quiet the partisan Charleston crowd for the moment. After a Cougar turnover, the Dragons took the lead at 53-52 on a Kurk Lee drive to his right. That would be the Dragons' last lead of the night. Chealey scored on a lay-in and then Cameron Johnson nailed a three giving Charleston a four-point lead. The Dragons could not get any closer the rest of the way.

In the first half, Grant Riller put the Cougars ahead 22-19, with a three-pointer. Drexel then went ice cold. The Dragons were held off the board for almost five minutes, but the defense didn't allow the Cougars to separate. The stretch finally ended when Kurk Lee found Austin Williams on a thunderous alley-oop with 1:16 to go as Drexel went to the half down by just three at 30-27. Riller showed why he was an All-CAA selection with his play in the first half. The sophomore scored 13 of his points in the opening frame. Drexel had four players score at least five points and hung around despite shooting just 1-for-8 from long range in the first half.

The victory sends top-seeded and regular-season CAA co-champion College of Charleston into Monday's tournament semifinals where the Cougars will meet fourth-seeded William & Mary.

Kurk Lee had a solid all-around game for Drexel. The sophomore had 15 points on 7-for-11 shooting and had five steals. The five steals tied a Drexel CAA Tournament record that was set by Scott Rodgers in 2007 against VCU. Isabell had his sixth double-double of the year with 14 points and 12 rebounds. Williams closed out his career with 12 points, nine rebounds and three blocked shots.

The College of Charleston was led Chealey's 22 points. Riller finished with 17, while Jarrell Brantley finished with 12 points and 11 rebounds.