Junior guard Damion Lee continued to lead the way for the Dragons, scoring 18 points on three-of-12 shooting, grabbing 11 rebounds, and tacking on four assists in 40 minutes of action.
The Dragons shot 44.9 percent from the field on the afternoon, one of the team’s more efficient performances of the season.
Delaware’s top two scorers, Kory Holden and Kyle Anderson, combined for just 15 points, 12.9 fewer than the 27.9 points they averaged entering the game. The Blue Hens shot 41.2 percent from the field as a team.
But Delaware stuck around for the entire afternoon, trimming the gap to just three points with a little more than a minute to play. They just couldn’t close the gap as Drexel hit just enough foul shots to keep the Hens at bay.
First half
It took the Dragons just under 19 minutes to equal their point total from Thursday’s hideous loss to James Madison University. An entirely different team showed up in Newark, and the offense looked as smooth as it has in any half this season.
Drexel shot 50 percent from the field, knocking down three of seven attempts from deep. Seven of the team’s available eight players made at least one field goal.
Lee led the way with nine points, eight rebounds and four assists in the first 20 minutes. The junior grabbed the Dragons’ offense by the horns and led an efficient attack, seemingly intent to not settle for poor shots.
On the other side of the court, Delaware couldn’t figure out the Dragons’ defense and struggled to make the open shots they saw. The Blue Hens made just seven of 23 attempts, turning the ball over four times.
Drexel out-rebounded Delaware, 21-12, in the first half.
Performance of the night
Freshman forward Tyshawn Myles recorded his first career double-double as a Dragon, scoring 11 points and corralling 11 rebounds, including six offensive boards, in the finest game of his young career.
Two days after playing just three minutes as he recovered from an illness, Myles dominated the paint for the Dragons.
Myles seemed always in position under the hoop for his game-high 11 rebounds. He was forced into extra action when fellow freshman forward Austin Williams fouled out in just eight minutes of action.
Inside the box score
Drexel held the lead for the entire 40 minutes.
The Dragons edged out the Blue Hens on the glass, snaring 33 rebounds to Delaware’s 30.
Drexel’s three available forwards combined for 18 points and 14 rebounds on the afternoon.
What’s next?
Drexel heads to Hempstead, N.Y., to take on the Hofstra University Pride (13-6, 4-2) Wednesday, Jan. 21, at 7:00 pm.
Delaware finishes a three-game homestand when the Hens play host to the College of William & Mary (11-6, 5-1) Wednesday, Jan. 21, at 7:00 pm.