Skip to content
Link copied to clipboard

Drexel snaps skid, is seventh seed in CAA tournament

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. - Drexel basketball coach Bruiser Flint admitted that his team is deficient when it comes to perimeter shooting.

Tavon Allen, of Drexel, goes up for a dunk. (Charles Fox/Staff Photographer)
Tavon Allen, of Drexel, goes up for a dunk. (Charles Fox/Staff Photographer)Read more

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. - Drexel basketball coach Bruiser Flint admitted that his team is deficient when it comes to perimeter shooting.

Freddie Wilson and Tavon Allen showed otherwise Saturday afternoon, leading the Dragons to an 80-66 victory over William and Mary at Kaplan Arena.

Wilson scored a career-high 24 points, and Allen chipped in 22 as Drexel (11-18, 9-9) snapped a four-game losing streak. The Dragons shot 49 percent from the field and were 11 of 21 from three-point range as they spoiled the Tribe's hopes of clinching the regular-season conference title.

"Most teams are going to let us shoot anyway," Flint said. "We're one of the worst-shooting teams in the league. But my whole thing all year has been just be ready to shoot it when it comes to us. We were just in better position to shoot the ball."

Despite the win, Drexel had to settle for the seventh seed in the CAA tournament. The Dragons will play the College of Charleston Friday at 8:30 p.m. in a first-round game in Baltimore.

Wilson scored 12 points in the first half, making 4 of 5 from behind the arc, as the Dragons built a 37-21 halftime lead.

"The game plan was to be patient on offense and be disciplined on defense," Wilson said. ". . . Everybody did their part today."

Allen added 11 points in the first half, including 3 of 5 from distance. The 6-foot-7 junior guard was equally impressive defensively, holding Marcus Thornton, William and Mary's all-time leading scorer, to just five points in the opening half.

"During the first half . . . we were hitting shots and just playing with confidence," Allen said.

The Tribe (18-10, 12-6) trimmed the lead to 60-51 on a layup by Thornton with 6 minutes, 22 seconds left. Drexel answered with a 10-4 run to put the game out of reach.

The Dragons outrebounded the Tribe, 36-24, and didn't give up many easy baskets. Rodney Williams tallied 18 points and nine rebounds for Drexel.

"I told the guys this was probably one of the best wins in my career," Flint said. "We did exactly what we talked about doing. We made some shots that we usually don't make, and I told the guys the effort was unbelievable."