On Nov. 8, 20 minutes into their Big 5 game against the Saint Joseph’s Hawks, Drexel played the game on its terms: physical on the glass, balanced on offense, and fast in transition. The Dragons took a 37-34 edge into halftime at Michael J. Hagan ’85 Arena. But a surging final stretch from the Hawks flipped the script, and Drexel fell 76-65 to move to 1-1 on the young season.
Drexel set the tone early. After a 0-2 start, guards Kevon Vanderhorst and Shane Blakeney pushed the Dragons ahead with a layup and a wing three, and forward Victor Panov’s tip-in made it 7-4. The first half became a tug-of-war; Eli Beard, Josh Reed, Martin de LaPorterie, Villiam Garcia-Adsten, and Garfield Turner all chipped in buckets as Drexel’s depth showed. A late Garcia Adsten layup with six seconds left sent the Dragons to the locker room up three, 37-34.
Saint Joseph’s answered from the line to open the second half, but Drexel kept counterpunching. Turner’s tip-in and layup sequence pushed the lead to 46-43, and moments later, Garcia Adsten’s put-back made it 48-43. The Hawks kept hanging around behind Deuce Jones and Dasear Haskins, and a flurry of whistles nudged momentum their way.
The game’s turning point came with five minutes remaining, tied 60-60 after a Garfield Turner layup. From there, Saint Joseph’s closed on a 16-5 run. A corner three by Anthony Finkley at four minutes left put the Hawks up four, Jones strung together layups and free throws, and the Hawks’ rim protection – anchored by Justice Ajogbor – snuffed out multiple late Drexel drives. A late Panov three gave the Dragons a flicker of hope, but St. Joe’s sealed it at the charity stripe.
What went well?
For much of the opening half, the Dragons executed their game plan to near perfection. The defense was organized and disciplined, and they forced Saint Joseph’s into tough shots and turnovers. Holding the Hawks, an extremely good team, to just 34 first-half points on their home court is a testament to Drexel’s early effort and organized defense.
In the early second half, it was more of the same. Drexel’s defensive pressure and rebounding turned into transition chances, fueling a 48-43 advantage. The Dragons’ energy on defense stood out as a major positive, showing that this team can hang with great opponents.
Inserted into the starting lineup to contend with Saint Joseph’s size, Garcia-Adsten made the most of his opportunity. The forward was active on the glass, scoring at all three levels, and providing much-needed versatility in the frontcourt. His scoring gave Drexel stability on offense when possessions stalled. This was a bit of a breakout game for Garcia-Adsten after a down year in the 2024-2025 season. Garcia-Adsten’s combination of rebounding and scoring touch could make him a permanent feature in the starting lineup moving forward.
Vanderhorst and Blakeney look ready to command the backcourt this season. Vanderhorst looked comfortable and in control, creating some timely opportunities for the Dragons with a couple of drives and triples. Vanderhorst shot the ball extremely efficiently and should see an increase in shot share moving forward. Despite an off-shooting night, Blakeney got to his spots and was taking high-quality shots while playing active defense, recording four steals. Both looked more assertive and will continue to build off this performance.
What went wrong?
With the score tied 60-60 at the five-minute mark, Drexel appeared to be poised for a strong finish. Instead, Saint Joseph’s closed on a 16-5 run. The Dragons’ offense stagnated heavily in the final five minutes. Possessions grew stagnant, ball movement slowed, and too many trips ended in contested jumpers. Drexel went just about the entire last five minutes without a field goal, until Panov’s late triple when the game was out of reach, allowing the Hawks to take control.
The biggest concern came from the center position. Drexel’s centers struggled to establish a presence on either end, missing some box outs, giving up second-chance points, and failing to finish around the rim. While Turner, de LaPorterie, and Akuta provided brief sparks, their overall presence left much to be desired. The Dragons will need more consistent production and physicality from the big men if they hope to compete with bigger teams in the Big 5 and the CAA.
The second half featured too many unnecessary fouls that gave Saint Joseph’s free trips to the line and halted any momentum Drexel had created. Reach-ins, pushed from the back, and poor contests piled up at inopportune times, helping the Hawks extend possessions and build a rhythm.
The same crisp movement that defined the first 25 minutes disappeared late. The Dragons stopped attacking the paint and relied too heavily on perimeter shots. Without consistent post touches or inside-out action, Drexel’s half-court offense became predictable and easy to defend.
Despite the loss, Drexel showed enough in the first 30 minutes to suggest that this team’s ceiling remains high. The starting five, especially with Garcia-Adsten’s emergence and the assertiveness from Vanderhorst and Blakeney, gives the Dragons a strong foundation.Still, closing games will be the next test. Late-game composure, interior consistency, and foul discipline are all areas to tighten up before conference play begins. If Drexel can sustain the intensity it showed early against Saint Joseph’s, the results should soon follow.