Wynter's Huge Second Half Propels Drexel Past Northeastern, 76-68

Saturday, January 15

Boston, Mass.

2 p.m.

Drexel University

7-6,2-1CAA

Northeastern

6-10,0-5CAA

Drexel

Northeastern

Photo by: Jim Pierce

Wynter's Huge Second Half Propels Drexel Past Northeastern, 76-68

1/15/2022 3:59:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

BOSTON – Camren Wynter scored 22 of his season-high 26 points in the second half as a short-handed Drexel team knocked off Northeastern, 76-68, at Matthews Arena. The Dragons dressed just eight players but shot 71 percent in the second half to get the victory in Boston for the first time since the 2011-12 season. Wynter added nine assists while Amari Williams recorded his first career double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds as the Dragons improved to 2-1 in Colonial Athletic Association play and 7-6 overall.

Drexel led 66-54 with 1:46 to play, before Northeastern (6-10, 0-5 CAA) rattled off eight straight points in just 13 seconds to make it 66-62. On Drexel's next possession, Wynter was fouled and made both ends of the one-and-one to give the Dragons a little breathing room. It was still just a four-point game with 30 seconds to play when Wynter was sent to the line once again. The CAA Preseason Player of the Year made both shots to cap off the afternoon. The Dragons sealed the contest when Williams threw down an uncontested dunk after Drexel broke the press. It was Drexel's first victory in Matthews Arena in nine years.

Wynter had his best game of the season. The senior was 9-for-19 from the floor and committed just two turnovers. He was 8-for-8 from the free throw line. Melik Martin was inserted into the starting line-up on Saturday and responded with a solid all-around game. The graduate student scored 12 points, grabbed seven rebounds and had three steals. Williams had a quiet 12 points, but was a big factor on the defensive end. Eight of the sophomores 10 rebounds were on the defensive end and he blocked a career-best five shots. Xavier Bell chipped in with 11 points and also had three steals. The Dragons played the game without James Butler, the CAA's leading rebounder, as well as Lamar Oden, Jr. and Tre Brown.

Early in the second half the Dragons held a slim 33-32 lead but proceeded to go on a 14-4 run to extend the lead to 47-36. Bell scored the last five points of that run with a driving lay-up and a 3-pointer. Northeastern answered a few minutes later with a run of its own. The Huskies outscored DU, 8-2, over a period of almost two minutes to trim the deficit to three with seven minutes to play.

The first half was a defensive battle for both teams. The Dragons made just three of their first 14 shots, but played well on the defensive end as the game remained tight the entire half. on the other end, Drexel's defense limited the Huskies' offense. Martin and Mate Okros scored on back-to-back possessions to give Drexel a 24-18 lead with 3:50 to play. The Huskies answered with five straight points and held DU off the board the rest of the half as Drexel held on for a 24-23 halftime lead. Coletrane Washington had two 3-pointers and eight points in the first half.

The Dragons finished the game shooting 51 percent from the floor and were efficient from deep. Drexel attempted only 14 3-pointers but made six of them. The Dragons also did a good job capitalizing on turnovers while taking care of the ball. The Dragons scored 20 points off of the 15 turnovers they forced while committing just six miscues on the afternoon.

Nikola Djogo led Northeastern with 19 points and was 4-for-7 from deep. Jahmyl Telfort added 18 points for the Huskies.

Drexel will be back in action on Monday afternoon. The Dragons will play at Hofstra on Martin Luther King Day beginning at 4 p.m.