The Drexel Dragons (10-11) delivered a heart-pounding Homecoming victory at the DAC, holding off a late surge to defeat Northeastern 83-78. What began as a defensive clinic evolved into an offensive showcase, with the Dragons shooting roughly 50% from the field to secure the win.
The first half was a grind. Despite falling behind 11-9 early, Drexel’s defense kept them in the game. Sparked by Shane Blakeney’s early scoring and a tenacious bench defense, the Dragons clawed back to take a 33-28 lead at halftime. The paint was the difference-maker, with the Dragons prioritizing tough layups over perimeter shots.
In the second half, the offense exploded. Kevon Vanderhorst was electric, acting as a relentless rim runner and flying to the hoop to capitalize on Northeastern’s missed buckets. Meanwhile, Garfield Turner was dominant in the paint, frustrating defenders and piling up points from the foul line. With 8 minutes left, tough plays from Blakeney and Dillon Tingler helped balloon the lead to 56-40.
However, Northeastern refused to go away, with their #1 option hitting tough shots to narrow the gap. In the crucial final moments, it was Josh Reed who stepped up, hitting clutch shots to stave off the comeback. Coming off the bench, Reed led the game in scoring, posting 22 points in 19 minutes.
Ultimately, Drexel won the battle of the boards and the assist column. Despite shooting just 30% from deep, their dominance inside and clutch execution down the stretch ensured the Homecoming crowd went home happy. Drexel is looking to earn a fifth conference win in a tough nine-game CAA conference stretch. Their next game is against Hampton on Thursday, Jan.29th, at the DAC at 7 pm.