Drake's Career Day Leads Drexel Past Howard, 68-65

Tuesday, December 17

Washington, DC

3:30 p.m.

Drexel University

8-4,0-0CAA

Howard

5-7,0-0MEAC

Drexel

Howard

Drake's Career Day Leads Drexel Past Howard, 68-65

12/17/2024 5:27:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Jason Drake scored a career-high 21 points, including the last eight for the Dragons, as Drexel defeated Howard, 68-65 on Tuesday afternoon at Burr Gymnasium. The junior sank four free throws down the stretch as Drexel improved to 8-4 on the season.

The Dragons used an 8-0 run on their way to a 49-38 lead with 13 minutes to play. However, the lead didn't last long as the Bison (5-7) went on a run of their own to tie the game at 52 with just 7:56 remaining. After the timeout, Yame Butler drained a 3-pointer to give Drexel the lead for good, although Howard was within a possession or two for the final seven minutes. The Bison cut the lead to two points three times in the final 2:40 of the game, but each time Drake extended the lead. He made a pair of jumpers and two free throws as Drexel led 66-62 with just 13 seconds to play. Howard's Marcus Dockery drained a long 3-pointer with five seconds to play, but after the timeout Drake was fouled and made two more freebies to make it a 68-65 game. Cameron Shockley-Okeke's desperation 3-pointer came up short as the Dragons escaped with the win.

Drexel picked up its third straight win and its fourth in its last five outings. The Dragons are now 4-1 in true road games. They picked up their eighth non-conference win of the year, the most non-conference wins for the team since the 2013-14 team won eight games prior to CAA play.

The game was back and forth for most of the first half as neither team could open up more than a two-possession advantage. The Dragons got a solid contribution off the bench from Villam Garcia Adsten, who scored eight points in the first half. Drexel was able to take the lead late in the half. Butler closed the half with five straight points, three on a 3-pointer and the last two on a goaltending call to put the Dragons ahead, 36-34. Butler had 10 first half points.

Drake finished the day with 21 points, eclipsing his previous high of 18 points against La Salle. Butler added 16 points and was 6-for-10 from the floor. He made three 3-pointers and had a pair of steals. Cole Hargrove grabbed 10 rebounds to lead the team. Drexel made all but one of its 12 free throws.

Drexel will play its final game before the semester break next Saturday at noon against Penn State at Wells Fargo Center. That game can be heard live on Drexeldragons.com. It will be the last non-conference game of the season. CAA play begins on Jan. 2 when Drexel visits Campbell for the first time.