IS LIVE CHATTING PHILLIES VS. TIGERS
Perhaps Drexel thought the game was in a snow delay.
That's the way the Dragons played yesterday at the Daskalakis Athletic Center while a blizzard paralyzed the Philadelphia region.
Drexel began the game as if stuck in a snowdrift. After breaking out, the Dragons held on for their biggest victory of the season.
Boosted by a 23-6 stretch to end the first half, Drexel defeated George Mason, 73-60, in the Colonial Athletic Association showdown.
The Dragons knocked the Patriots (15-9, 10-3 CAA) out of a first-place tie with Northeastern. Drexel (14-11, 9-4) snapped a four-game series losing streak against George Mason.
The Dragons have won five of their last six games, but early on, the Patriots appeared capable of posting a blowout.
Missing eight of its first nine shots while being outhustled, Drexel trailed, 18-6, with 10 minutes, 23 seconds remaining in the first half.
"I'm not sure what it exactly was," Dragons point guard Jamie Harris said, "but it was definitely mentally. Some guys just didn't come ready to play.
"After it got to us and we saw [the Patriots' lead], we didn't want to let the game slip away."
They responded with the key outburst to create a 29-24 halftime cushion.
Drexel reserve guard Chris Fouch (17 points) scored in double figures for the seventh consecutive game. Six of the redshirt freshman's points came on a pair of three-pointers in that stretch.
Harris (14 points, five assists) added five points, while sophomore reserve forward Kevin Phillip (six points, seven rebounds) had four.
George Mason pulled within three points (43-40) with 13 minutes remaining and within four (58-54) with 6:05 left. The Dragons responded with clutch free throws and timely baskets to open up double-digit leads both times. Drexel shot 80.6 percent (25 of 31) from the foul line.
Sophomore forward Mike Morrison led the Patriots with 17 points.
Dragons reserve forward Evan Neisler played after missing Tuesday's game against Towson with a sprained left knee. The 6-foot-8 senior finished with seven points and a team-high nine rebounds in 19 minutes.
Contact staff writer Keith Pompey at 610-313-8029 or kpompey@phillynews.com.
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