Fouch's career-high 30 leads Drexel over Binghamton

Drexel fans who were worried about missing the 4:15 p.m. start of yesterday's Eagles-Bears game because the Dragons-Binghamton basketball matchup might extend into overtime were quickly relieved of stress.

In its home opener, Drexel (3-1) built a 17-1 lead. Binghamton, coached by former Temple star Mark Macon, didn't hit double figures until 1 minute, 39 seconds remained in the first half.

Drexel led by as many as 43 points on its way to a 79-39 trouncing of the Bearcats (1-4). The Dragons held a significant 39-20 rebounding advantage (13-4 on the offensive boards).

Chris Fouch almost scored as many points as Binghamton. Shooting 11-for-15 from the field and 8-for-11 on three-pointers, Fouch finished with a career-high 30 points. He is averaging 21.5 points.

"[Fouch] got looks at the basket, and the guys did a good job finding him," Drexel coach Bruiser Flint said.

"Once I get it going," Fouch said, "the rim looks real big to me. I kept getting looks and when they didn't make adjustments I just kept shooting."

Several times, Binghamton inexplicably left Fouch, a 6-2 sophomore, unguarded. Maybe they thought he would get tired and finally miss a few.

After scoring 23 and 26 points in Drexel's two wins, Fouch was held to just seven points in the Dragons' loss at Rhode Island on Thanksgiving eve. Against the Rams he shot 3-for-14 overall, 0-for-7 on threes.

"Rhode Island makes you play a lot faster," Flint said. "I thought we took quick shots. They make you play at such a fast pace that you get ahead of yourself at times."

Score 30 points and a player might think he'd get a break from his coach. Wrong. During the postgame interviews Flint reminded Fouch that the Drexel coaches also want him to play defense.

"Those nights when he's not 11-for-15, he's got to give me something other than [scoring]," Flint said. "He made a three and [then] his guy scored on him. I screamed at him 'Play some D.' The referee said, 'I can't believe you just said that.' "

With Binghamton trailing by 30 or more points throughout the second half, Macon was asked what he was looking for from his America East Conference team.

"I was looking for Superman, but he [wasn't] in the building," he said. "We played a really good team. They've got real good shooters and they rebound the basketball well.

"With the new stuff we're doing [on offense] it's going to look like we're the worst team in the world, but we're getting it."

Robert Mansell, a 6-4 freshman from Cheltenham High, led Binghamton with 12 points off the bench.

Samme Givens, Drexel's 6-5 junior, collected a game-high 15 rebounds (he's averaging 11.8) and added 12 points.

"We're a pretty good team," Givens said. "When we execute and lock down on defense, we should give ourselves a good chance to win."

Next up for the Dragons is Saint Joseph's Wednesday night. It's the Hawks' first visit to the Daskalakis Athletic Center since 1992.

"I'm happy one of the Big 5 schools is coming to our building; it doesn't happen often," said Flint, a St. Joe's alumnus.

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