Drexel gives Binghamton a 79-39 drubbing

Drexel's Chris Fouch spent Sunday afternoon running circles around the Binghamton defense. Literally, and figuratively. As the sophomore guard ran back and forth from sideline to sideline, Bearcats defenders pointed, with an accompanying holler of "Shooter!"

No one listened.

Fouch, the Dragons' deadly sixth man, cooly buried 8 of 11 three-pointers and posted a career-high 30 points in a 79-39 rout in Drexel's home opener at the Daskalakis Center. He scored 14 straight points during a second-half shooting spree that left the Bearcats dazed.

"When a shooter is on, the rim just opens up," said Binghamton coach Mark Macon, the former Temple great who scored a school-record 2,609 points during his Owls career.

Fouch, who seemingly hit open jumpers from every spot on the floor, echoed Macon's observation.

"Once I get it going, the rim gets pretty big to me," he said. "We kept running the same offense and I kept getting the same looks. I just kept shooting."

While Sunday was a welcome home game for Drexel (3-1), it was a brutal return to Philadelphia for Macon. It took Binghamton (1-3) nearly eight minutes to convert its first field goal, as Drexel jumped out to a 26-3 lead and never looked back. The Dragons' advantage would grow to as much as 43 points in the second half.

"We're getting better and we did some of the things that we didn't do well in [Wednesday's 74-68 loss at Rhode Island]," said Drexel coach Bruiser Flint, who will face his alma mater on Wednesday night when St. Joseph's visits the Daskalakis Center for the first time since 1992.

Although Fouch had 11 first-half points, it was Samme Givens' work on the offensive glass and solid play from freshman point guard Frantz Massenat that paced Drexel to a 39-13 halftime lead. Givens finished with 12 points and 15 rebounds, eight of those coming on the offensive end, while Massenat added 10 points.

Drexel outrebounded Binghamton, 39-20, and shot 51.8 percent from the field.

"I think we established our presence out there early on," said Givens, who had his third double-double of the season.

That presence was most evident on the defensive end. Drexel relentlessly forced Binghamton possessions to end in forced shots. The Bearcats converted just 15 of 45 field-goal attempts and committed 12 turnovers against seven assists.

"For major teams, it's not about stealing the ball, it's about being solid defensively, and [Drexel] is that kind of team," Macon said. "It's solid, sound defense - staying in position, keeping the guy in front of you."

Macon, a three-time all-American at Temple, is in his second year leading Binghamton. Though still called an interim head coach after posting a 13-18 record last season, the Big Five Hall of Famer is in the first year of a two-year contract, according to a school official.