Drexel’s men’s basketball team had no chance against Syracuse, which outplayed the Dragons in the second half and secured a dominant 80-50 win at the Xfinity Mobile Arena on Saturday afternoon.
The matchup at the arena, which is home to the Philadelphia 76ers and Philadelphia Flyers, was one of the highlights of Drexel’s 2025-26 season schedule.
In front of the eyes of ex-NBA superstar Carmelo Anthony, current Sixer VJ Edgecombe, and 5,768 visitors, the Dragons started well. The first half was fast-paced and physical, with no team being able to gain a major advantage. The Dragons were often close to tying or getting a lead.
Eli Beard was the best player for the Dragons. He finished the game with 13 points, four rebounds, and two assists. Beard played a huge role in keeping it a close game. Syracuse was up by five points, 37-32, at halftime.
However, the following 20 minutes turned into a nightmare for Drexel as a lot went wrong for Zack Spiker’s team. Drexel’s field goal percentage dropped from 50 to 20 percent, and the Dragons gave up too many turnovers against a strong Syracuse. The Orange scored 20 points off turnovers and made the second half look easy, winning the game with a 30-point difference.
The loss against Syracuse was Drexel’s third straight, leaving them 1-3. The Dragons haven’t beaten a Division 1 opponent yet. Drexel has the chance to turn the page when facing the New Jersey Institute of Technology on Tuesday night when returning to the Daskalakis Athletic Center.
A win would be important for Drexel. The Dragons want to go confidently into the prestigious Battle of 33rd Street and Big 5 matchup against the University of Pennsylvania on Friday night.
Drexel returns home for their next three games. They will face NJIT on Tuesday, Nov. 18th at 7 pm, Penn on Friday, Nov. 21st at 7 pm, and Old Dominion on Sunday, Nov. 23rd at 2 pm.