Despite record, Dragons are dangerous

One week, Drexel appears to be playing itself out of a coveted seed in the Colonial Athletic Association Tournament. The next week, the squad shows why nobody should be eager to face Drexel in the league's postseason event, regardless of where the Dragons finish in the regular-season standings.

The Dragons visited Hofstra on Saturday, and came away with a 65-60 victory against a Pride squad that was one game behind league leader Virginia Commonwealth. Drexel did it with defense and rebounding, staples which will serve the Dragons well come tournament time.

Before taking Hofstra down in front of a sellout crowd at the Pride's Mack Sports Complex, the Dragons had dropped their last three road games in CAA play. Those losses were mostly due to Drexel's inability to finish plays and make baskets.

The first front line sub for the Dragons, the 6-foot-8 Dartaye Ruffin, is averaging 7.2 points and 6.9 rebounds, and his emergence is valuable for Drexel. While Ruffin was averaging 10.0 points and 9.7 rebounds in three outings last week, starting forward Daryl McCoy was going scoreless in each.

While Ruffin and McCoy are young and still coming on, the steady Samme Givens, a 6-5 junior, continues to be the only player in the CAA who is averaging a double-double.

With Givens, McCoy, and Ruffin blending together and making the Dragons a team to reckon with around the hoop, the Dragons are leading the league in rebounding.