Dragons Fall to Purdue Fort Wayne in Daytona

Monday, November 25

Daytona Beach, Fla.

12:30 p.m.

Drexel University

4-3,0-0CAA

Purdue Fort Wayne

4-2,0-0Horizon

Drexel

Purdue Fort Wayne

11/25/2024 2:42:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Cole Hargrove had his third career double-double, but Purdue Fort Wayne shot 65 percent from the floor in the second half and defeated Drexel, 87-81, in the opening round of the Sunshine Slam.

Hargrove scored a career-high 19 points and grabbed 14 rebounds. He had seven offensive rebounds in a game for the second time this season. Kobe MaGee added 15 points and three steals as the Dragons had five players score at least 10 points. Shane Blakeney scored 12 points off the bench and Villiam Garcia Adsten scored a career-best 11 points. Jason Drake led the Dragons with five assists and finished with 10 points.

The Mastadons, who were picked to finish first in the Horizon League, were led by Rasheed Bello. The Preseason First Team All-League player scored a game-high 20 points and handed out eight assists to lead a balanced offensive attack. Corey Hadnot came off the bench to make three 3-pointers and finish with 15 points. Overall, Purdue Fort Wayne shot 56 percent from the floor and was 10-for-23 from deep. According to KenPom rankings, the Mastadons were the highest rated team the Dragons have faced so far this season.

Drexel held the lead until Purdue Fort Wayne's Erik Mulder had a put-back with 15:23 to play in the game that started an 8-0 run. Bello scored 15 of his points in the second half as the Mastadons kept Drexel out of reach the rest of the way.

Drexel started off strong in the first half opening the game by making nine of their first 13 shots. MaGee got off to a fast start, scoring 10 points in the first nine minutes. After five straight points from Garcia Adsten later in the half, DU held a 35-20 advantage with 5:19 to play. The lead didn't last long as Purdue Fort Wayne closed the opening 20 minutes with a 15-2 run, making it 37-35 half way through. MaGee led Drexel with 12 points, while Hargrove had nine points and seven rebounds. Jalen Jackson, another First Team All-League selection scored nine of his 13 points in the first half.

The Dragons return to the Ocean Center for the consolation game in the Ocean Bracket on Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. Drexel will face Chicago State, who lost on Monday to Radford.