Spring Break
Men's basketball survives against JMU, holds on to top spot
Shawn Sweeney
Issue date: 2/27/04 Section: Sports
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It was a tale of two games, two basement-dwelling teams and two very different victories as the first-place Drexel men's basketball team headed into a pair of games against Towson and James Madison. The Dragons expected to make easy work of their lower-ranking counterparts, who rank 10th and ninth, respectively, in the CAA.
The story got off to a good start, as Drexel handed Towson a 75-51 shellacking that saw the Dragons' lead balloon up to 44 points Feb. 21. Senior Day at the Daskalakis Athletic Center saw senior Tim Whitworth light up the Tigers for 23 points. At the half, Whitworth alone outscored Towson, 20-17.
The plot took an unexpected twist on the road against James Madison, as the Dragons trailed for almost the entire first half, going into halftime with the game tied at 26-26. The protagonist would be Whitworth again, finishing the Dukes with a late three-pointer, sealing an all too-close-for-comfort victory for Drexel Feb. 25.
After finally taking the lead early in the second half at the Convocation Center, the Dragons managed to put as many as nine points between themselves and James Madison. The Dukes quickly fought their way back into the game.
When James Madison guard Daniel Freeman drove to the lane, he was fouled by Drexel center Sean Brooks.
Freeman's ensuing free throws tied the game at 57 with 48 seconds on the clock.
Coming out of a timeout, Drexel managed to get the ball to Whitworth, who hit a three-pointer with 14 seconds left to play. Drexel coach Bruiser Flint described the winning shot.
"Sean [Brooks] came out of the double team and passed it," he told WZZD 990 AM. "We swung it and Bash [Mason] got penetration and hit [Whitworth] wide open in the corner."
James Madison's Dwayne Broyles missed a three-pointer from the top of the circle that would have tied the game, but the rebound was tipped in with five-tenths of a second on the clock. On the inbound play, Mason was fouled and made both his free throws to give Drexel (18-8, 13-4 Colonial Athletic Association) a 62-59 victory.
The story got off to a good start, as Drexel handed Towson a 75-51 shellacking that saw the Dragons' lead balloon up to 44 points Feb. 21. Senior Day at the Daskalakis Athletic Center saw senior Tim Whitworth light up the Tigers for 23 points. At the half, Whitworth alone outscored Towson, 20-17.
The plot took an unexpected twist on the road against James Madison, as the Dragons trailed for almost the entire first half, going into halftime with the game tied at 26-26. The protagonist would be Whitworth again, finishing the Dukes with a late three-pointer, sealing an all too-close-for-comfort victory for Drexel Feb. 25.
After finally taking the lead early in the second half at the Convocation Center, the Dragons managed to put as many as nine points between themselves and James Madison. The Dukes quickly fought their way back into the game.
When James Madison guard Daniel Freeman drove to the lane, he was fouled by Drexel center Sean Brooks.
Freeman's ensuing free throws tied the game at 57 with 48 seconds on the clock.
Coming out of a timeout, Drexel managed to get the ball to Whitworth, who hit a three-pointer with 14 seconds left to play. Drexel coach Bruiser Flint described the winning shot.
"Sean [Brooks] came out of the double team and passed it," he told WZZD 990 AM. "We swung it and Bash [Mason] got penetration and hit [Whitworth] wide open in the corner."
James Madison's Dwayne Broyles missed a three-pointer from the top of the circle that would have tied the game, but the rebound was tipped in with five-tenths of a second on the clock. On the inbound play, Mason was fouled and made both his free throws to give Drexel (18-8, 13-4 Colonial Athletic Association) a 62-59 victory.
