Fouch's 31 points lift Drexel to double-OT win over Northeastern

Drexel coach Bruiser Flint refuses to use injuries as an excuse, saying they are an opportunity for the next player. Problem is, Flint may soon run out of players.

Luckily, he still has Chris Fouch and Frantz Massenat.

Fouch and Massenat set career highs in scoring with 31 and 27 points, respectively, as the shorthanded Dragons held off Northeastern, 93-88, in double overtime on Saturday at the Daskalakis Athletic Center.

Massenat added a career-high 12 rebounds along with eight assists for the Dragons (9-6), who snapped a three-game losing streak while evening their Colonial Athletic Association record at 1-1. Northeastern is 4-12, 1-1

Already without three starters due to injury, Drexel suffered another setback when starting forward Tavon Allen turned his left ankle on the final play of regulation. Allen (18 points) ended the game on crutches on the bench, where he had a great seat to watch his teammates' heroics.

Fouch and Massenat combined for all but two of Drexel's 26 overtime points.

"I tried to stay aggressive the whole game, but the second overtime I felt the plays were there to be made more," Fouch said. "I tried my best to take advantage of it."

The sixth-year senior had shot just 28.8 percent from the arc this season before Saturday. After watching Fouch in Saturday's shootaround, Flint recommended an adjustment, and Fouch responded by making 10 of 15 field goals and 6 of 8 threes.

"I didn't think he was coming down right on his shot," Flint said. "He was back to being him. He shot them like they're going in."

Already without preseason all-CAA first-team selection Damion Lee (knee), who is out for the season, Drexel was missing starters Kazembe Abif (knee) and Dartaye Ruffin (calf) on Saturday.

"I just talk about with injuries, it's the opportunity for the next guy," Flint said. "That's your opportunity that you can show me, 'Yo, I should be playing.' "

Drexel got a huge break with under a minute left in the second overtime when a sure turnover by Massenat stayed with the Dragons after the ball bounded off an official back to Massenat. Fouch then hit a three-pointer that made it 90-85 with 35.7 seconds left.

Pollard sent the game to overtime by draining a three-pointer from the right wing at the buzzer.