Dragons Defeat Charleston to Advance to CAA Semifinals

Sunday, March 7

Atlantic Union Bank Center, Harrisonburg, Va.

9:30 p.m.

Drexel University

College of Charleston

Photo by: Greg Carroccio/Sideline Photos

Dragons Defeat Charleston to Advance to CAA Semifinals

3/7/2021 11:11:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Harrisonburg,Va. - Drexel shot a blistering 61 percent in the first half and advanced to the CAA Semifinals with a 80-75 win against the College of Charleston. The Dragons (10-7) will face Northeastern with a trip to the title game on the line Monday night. The Dragons set a team record with 11 3-pointers in a CAA tournament game. Zach Walton led the Dragons with 17 points and was 5-for-6 from long range on the night.

The Dragons played as good an offensive half as they did all season during the opening 20 minutes. Drexel was 7-for-12 from deep and had contributions from numerous players. Camren Wynter led Drexel with 12 points, while Walton added 11. Walton was 4-for-4 in the half and made all three of his 3-point attempts. The Dragons were extremely efficient and took care of the ball, turning it over just two times as they built a 41-29 lead at the break.

Drexel kept the Cougars at bay for most of the second half. Charleston chipped away at the 14-point lead, but didn't get to within two possessions until the final three minutes. The Cougars went on a 6-0 run courtesy of two Zep Jasper 3-pointers to make it a 72-65 game. On the ensuing possession, Walton hit his fifth trey of the night to extend the lead back to eight. Jasper hit another 3-pointer with :51 seconds to go and after James Butler made one of two free throws, the Cougars trailed by six. Peyton Willis sank a 3-pointer with just seven ticks to go to give Charleston a glimpse of hope, but Matey Juric sank both ends of a one-and-one as the Dragons advanced to the semifinals for the first time since 2012.

Walton led four players in double figures scoring. Wynter added 16 points and four assists. T.J. Bickerstaff had 12 of his 14 points in the second and grabbed eight rebounds, while Butler added 12 points and eight boards. Drexel finished the day 31-for-56 from the floor and committed just six turnovers.

Drexel set numerous team tournament records on Sunday. The 11 3-pointers shattered the previous team mark of eight. The Dragons shot 61 percent from behind the arc and their .554 shooting percentage broke the team mark previously set during the 2011 season against Towson.

Jasper made five 3-pointers for the Cougars and finished with a game-high 27 points. Willis added 22 and drained three of Charleston's 10 3-pointers on the night.

Drexel will play in the nightcap tomorrow night against Northeastern in the CAA Semifinal. The Huskies and Dragons tip at 9:30 p.m. in a game that can be seen on the CBS Sports Network. The winners will advance to the championship game on Tuesday and play either Elon and Hofstra.