Spring Break
Fairy-tale season ends for Drexel
Brett Fischer
Issue date: 3/9/07 Section: Sports
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"Fired up" is not a good enough description for the way the game began for Drexel in its first home National Invitational Tournament game, just two days after it was excluded from the NCAA Tournament. But the Dragons burnt out and could not finish the job they started.
Drexel's incredible season came to a close when the team lost to North Carolina State 63-56 in the first round of the NIT, March 13 at the Daskalakis Athletic Center.
Drexel center Frank Elegar had another stellar performance, shooting 10-12 from the field to finish with 24 points and seven rebounds. But his poor free-throw shooting cost his team down the stretch as he only hit four of 12 from the charity stripe.
NC State forward Brandon Costner made a tough layup and got fouled by Elegar with 1:10 remaining in the game. He made the free throw giving the Wolfpack a four-point lead.
Elegar tried to counter that attack by getting fouled and making a basket with 59 seconds. But he missed the free throw and the Dragons never recovered.
"We just didn't make any foul shots tonight," Drexel coach Bruiser Flint said. "It came down to foul shots. It's tough the way it ended, and I feel sorry for my guys. It's been a tough two or three days, but I think they have handled everything pretty well."
NC State (19-15) had four players score in double digits, led by guard Engin Atsur with 18 points, and shot 55 percent from the field in the game. Center Ben Mccauley made a big impact on the game as he finished with a double-double, getting 16 points and 12 rebounds.
Despite the loss, Drexel (23-9) made a statement by keeping it close against NC State, an ACC team.
"I think we got more respect," Crawford said. "We proved that we can play with some of the other top teams in the country."
Chaz Crawford, the CAA Defensive Player of the Year, fouled out with 2:51 left in the game. The Dragons were winning at that point 54-52, but could not hang on for the victory.
Crawford played his last game in a Drexel uniform, but will go down as one of the best defenders ever to play at Drexel and one of the greatest shot blockers in CAA history. Beyond that, Flint said Crawford wasn't just a great player.
"Chaz is probably the nicest kid I've ever coached in my life," Flint said. "And I really mean that."
Drexel guard Bashir Mason discussed how his last season as a Dragon went.
"I think it was a real good season for all of us - for the players and the program," Mason said.
Elegar was proud that the team was able to build camaraderie both on and off the court.
"We were on the road so much that the team chemistry kept rising," Elegar said. "We felt more comfortable on the court. That's something we didn't have in the past."
The raucous Drexel fans helped motivate the Dragons. It sounded like a stampede of wild elephants, but in reality it was just the thunderous roar of the DAC Pack seeking a postseason win.
Flint said that the atmosphere has been similar since the beginning of the season.
"We've had great crowds and they've been really loud," Flint said. "The fans have been incredible all season. The crazy part is that we've actually lost in the DAC."
The attendance for the game was 2,499, just one short of a sellout.
On the first play of the game, Elegar threw down a dunk and Drexel took that momentum to storm out to an early 10-1 lead. Drexel's largest lead of the game was 11, but it could not continue that momentum down the stretch.
Elegar and Crawford combined for an impressive 13-18 shooting, but the guards struggled. Mason, Mejia, Scott Rodgers and Tramayne Hawthorne shot only 9-33.
The loss drops Drexel to 0-4 in the NIT under Flint.
NC State scored its first field goal just under four minutes into the game. The Wolfpack didn't get its first lead of the game until 13:27 remaining in the second half, 36-35.
Game Notes
The DAC Pack created a sign that stated, "Can't spell snubbed without D.U." and "Next on Sportscenter: NCAA Fires Walters." … The announcer asked fans in attendance to squeeze in to allow more room for other people to sit down. … Chants of "Bruiser Flint" started when the Drexel head coach walked onto the court just before game time.
Drexel's incredible season came to a close when the team lost to North Carolina State 63-56 in the first round of the NIT, March 13 at the Daskalakis Athletic Center.
Drexel center Frank Elegar had another stellar performance, shooting 10-12 from the field to finish with 24 points and seven rebounds. But his poor free-throw shooting cost his team down the stretch as he only hit four of 12 from the charity stripe.
NC State forward Brandon Costner made a tough layup and got fouled by Elegar with 1:10 remaining in the game. He made the free throw giving the Wolfpack a four-point lead.
Elegar tried to counter that attack by getting fouled and making a basket with 59 seconds. But he missed the free throw and the Dragons never recovered.
"We just didn't make any foul shots tonight," Drexel coach Bruiser Flint said. "It came down to foul shots. It's tough the way it ended, and I feel sorry for my guys. It's been a tough two or three days, but I think they have handled everything pretty well."
NC State (19-15) had four players score in double digits, led by guard Engin Atsur with 18 points, and shot 55 percent from the field in the game. Center Ben Mccauley made a big impact on the game as he finished with a double-double, getting 16 points and 12 rebounds.
Despite the loss, Drexel (23-9) made a statement by keeping it close against NC State, an ACC team.
"I think we got more respect," Crawford said. "We proved that we can play with some of the other top teams in the country."
Chaz Crawford, the CAA Defensive Player of the Year, fouled out with 2:51 left in the game. The Dragons were winning at that point 54-52, but could not hang on for the victory.
Crawford played his last game in a Drexel uniform, but will go down as one of the best defenders ever to play at Drexel and one of the greatest shot blockers in CAA history. Beyond that, Flint said Crawford wasn't just a great player.
"Chaz is probably the nicest kid I've ever coached in my life," Flint said. "And I really mean that."
Drexel guard Bashir Mason discussed how his last season as a Dragon went.
"I think it was a real good season for all of us - for the players and the program," Mason said.
Elegar was proud that the team was able to build camaraderie both on and off the court.
"We were on the road so much that the team chemistry kept rising," Elegar said. "We felt more comfortable on the court. That's something we didn't have in the past."
The raucous Drexel fans helped motivate the Dragons. It sounded like a stampede of wild elephants, but in reality it was just the thunderous roar of the DAC Pack seeking a postseason win.
Flint said that the atmosphere has been similar since the beginning of the season.
"We've had great crowds and they've been really loud," Flint said. "The fans have been incredible all season. The crazy part is that we've actually lost in the DAC."
The attendance for the game was 2,499, just one short of a sellout.
On the first play of the game, Elegar threw down a dunk and Drexel took that momentum to storm out to an early 10-1 lead. Drexel's largest lead of the game was 11, but it could not continue that momentum down the stretch.
Elegar and Crawford combined for an impressive 13-18 shooting, but the guards struggled. Mason, Mejia, Scott Rodgers and Tramayne Hawthorne shot only 9-33.
The loss drops Drexel to 0-4 in the NIT under Flint.
NC State scored its first field goal just under four minutes into the game. The Wolfpack didn't get its first lead of the game until 13:27 remaining in the second half, 36-35.
Game Notes
The DAC Pack created a sign that stated, "Can't spell snubbed without D.U." and "Next on Sportscenter: NCAA Fires Walters." … The announcer asked fans in attendance to squeeze in to allow more room for other people to sit down. … Chants of "Bruiser Flint" started when the Drexel head coach walked onto the court just before game time.
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