Drexel falls at Northeastern, 54-52

BOSTON - Saying Drexel threw away Saturday's Colonial Athletic Association game at Northeastern wouldn't be an understatement.

If would be a fact.

The Dragons lost, 54-52, in their final regular-season game, but had led by a point, 52-51, after Northeastern's Demetrius Pollard drained a three-point shot with 15 seconds left in regulation.

Then, on the ensuing inbounds play, Tavon Allen threw the ball over midcourt, where it was caught by the Huskies' Scott Eatherton. The ball eventually wound up in the hands of David Walker, who was fouled on a three-point- shot attempt by Dartaye Ruffin.

With 6.7 seconds left, Walker buried each free throw for a 54-52 lead.

Drexel (16-13, 8-8) still had time to tie the score and force overtime. But Chris Fouch (26 points) front-rimmed a three-pointer, and Northeastern exited Matthews Arena with a victory.

"We had three timeouts left," Drexel coach Bruiser Flint said while discussing Allen's ill-advised pass. "If you're not certain, call a timeout.

"[Allen] thought a teammate was going one way, and he didn't go that way, and [Allen] threw it away."

A few hours after the game, the Dragons learned they will be playing Northeastern in the quarterfinals of the CAA tournament in Baltimore on Saturday at 2:30 p.m. Drexel had clinched the fourth seed before the game, and Northeastern earned the fifth seed when College of Charleston lost to Delaware.

Drexel played solid, man-to-man defense and held the Huskies (10-20, 7-9) to 29.7 percent (15-51) shooting. But the Dragons were frigid on the offensive end and hit only 35.1 percent (20-57) of their shots.

What hurt even more was their inability to convert free throws.

Drexel shot just 54.5 percent (6 for 11) from the foul line, with Frantz Massenat and Major Canady each missing the front end of one-and-ones in the final 41.8 seconds.

"Make foul shots and put the ball in the basket," Flint said. "That's it. If you do what you're supposed to do, the game's over.

"We weren't going to change our plays. It's been different guys at different times [that have missed key shots]. . . . But hopefully we can continue to play good defense and make some plays at the end of the game."