Dragons Pick Up 67-61 Win at Fairfield

Tuesday, November 19

Fairfield, Conn.

7 p.m.

Drexel University

3-2,0-0CAA

Fairfield

2-3,0-0MAAC

Drexel

Fairfield

11/19/2024 9:03:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

Blakeney Leads DU With a Career-High 16 Points

FAIRFIELD, Conn. - Yame Butler scored eight points in the final 3:21 and Shane Blakeney had career-highs of 16 points and nine rebounds as Drexel defeated Fairfield, 67-61 on Tuesday night. The Stags battled back from a 16-point deficit, but the Dragons held on to improve to 3-2.

Blakeney came off the bench and drained three 3-pointers and had his best game in a Drexel uniform. Butler was held in check for most of the night but came up big when his team needed it. The senior was 5-for-6 from the floor and finished with 14 points. Kobe MaGee scored all 12 of his points in the final 20 minutes and also had three treys. Victor Panov added eight points and eight rebounds. The Dragons shot 47 percent from the floor in the game and were 8-for-11 from the line.

The Stags took the lead at 61-59 after trailing throughout when Louis Bleechmore sank a three-pointer from the left wing. The Dragons answered on the next possession when MaGee drained a 3-pointer and was fouled. He converted a free throw to make it a 4-point play and the Dragons would not trail again. Fairfield was able to tie it, but Butler was too much down the stretch. He scored six straight Drexel points, many coming on physical drives in the lane as Drexel led by four. After a Prophet Johnson bucket cut the lead to two, Blakeney made a pair of free throws to put the Dragons again up by four. Fairfield missed a pair of free throws with 12 seconds to go, and Butler iced it with two more free throws.

The first half was all Drexel. With Jason Drake and Butler saddled with two fouls, Blakeney picked up the slack in the first half. The sophomore scored 10 points and had six rebounds as the Dragons extended their lead to as many as 16 in the first half. The Dragons played well defensively in the first half as they held the Stags to just 32 percent shooting and only 2-for-15 from 3-point territory.

Bleechmore and Johnson each had 12 points for the Stags. Former Drexel guard Jamie Bergens was held to just four points. The Stags fell to 2-3 on the season.

The Dragons are back on the road Friday when they visit Fordham for a non-conference tilt at 7 p.m. It will be the second of four straight games away from home for Coach Spiker's squad.