Drexel Holds Off Saint Joseph's at the DAC, 81-77

Thursday, December 17

Daskalakis Athletic Center

6 p.m.

Drexel University

4-2,0-0CAA

Saint Joseph's

0-3,0-0Atlantic 10

Saint Joseph's

Drexel

Drexel Holds Off Saint Joseph's at the DAC, 81-77

12/17/2020 8:15:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA – James Butler scored 21 points and added 16 rebounds as Drexel held off Saint Joseph's, 81-77, on Thursday evening at the Daskalakis Athletic Center. The Dragons improved to 4-2 on the season, while Saint Joseph's dropped to 0-3.

The Dragons opened up a big first-half lead, but Saint Joseph's erased that in the first six minutes of the second half. The Hawks took the lead on a three-pointer by Taylor Funk which capped a 10-0 run. Drexel answered a few minutes later with an eight-point run of its own. Tim Perry, Jr. had a put back and on the next possession, freshman Lamar Oden, Jr., knocked down his third 3-pointer of the game to put Drexel ahead 66-62.

Saint Joseph's again answered. Ryan Daly gave the Hawks their final lead of the night with two free throws, putting the visitors in front by a point with 6:22 to play. Camren Wynter then scored the next four points, two on a jumper in the paint and the next two from the line, putting Drexel in front 73-70. The Dragons would not trail again and sealed the game by making six free throws in the final 1:21. The win was Drexel's first against the Hawks since 2010 and snapped a six-game losing streak to its cross-town rival.

Drexel opened up a 40-24 lead with four minutes to play in the first half. The Dragons got big contributions from a pair of freshmen midway through the half. Oden made a pair of three-pointer and Xavier Bell had five points during an 11-2 stretch. Drexel also had an 11-0 run later in the half to take what looked like a commanding lead, but the Hawks had an answer. They closed the half by holding Drexel to just one field goal and cut the deficit to just seven at intermission.

Butler had his first double-double of the season and the 27^th of his career. His 16 rebounds tied a career-high and the graduate student was 7-for-7 from the line. Wynter had another solid night, finishing with 14 points and seven assists. T.J. Bickerstaff added 13 points. The Dragons shot 46 percent from the floor and were 8-for-17 from long range. The defense held Saint Joseph's to just 17 percent (4-24) from behind the stripe.

Daly had a huge game for Saint Joseph's. The local product from Havertown scored a team-high 30 points. He was 9-for-18 from the floor and made 10 of his 12 free-throw attempts. Funk finished with 14 points and eight rebounds, while Rahmir Moore chipped in with 12 points.

The Dragons have a quick turnaround. On Saturday afternoon, Drexel will visit Fairleigh Dickinson. Tip-off in Hackensack is set for 2 p.m. The game can be heard live on drexeldragons.com.