City of Basketball Love

Max Buchdahl (@max_buchdahl)

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After a first half in which the Drexel Dragons shot just 34 percent from the field, it seemed that the shooting struggles were going to continue for a team that is last in the CAA in every major shooting category.

Drexel still only trailed by two at half, and were then able to turn things around during a second half in which they shot 66.7 percent, and outscored the Delaware Blue Hens, 47-35.

Led by freshman guard Terrell Allen, who scored 17 of his team-high 19 points in the final 20 minutes, Drexel pulled out a 74-64 victory. This marked the Dragons’ first multi-game winning streak since they won six in a row during January and February of last season.

“You become a genius when the shots are going down,” Drexel coach Bruiser Flint said.

The win improves the Dragons to 8-20 and 3-14 in CAA play. With this win, Drexel dropped Delaware to last place in the CAA just a week before the conference tournament.

It’s also the first home win for the Dragons against Delaware since 2012. In a rivalry that has existed since the 1911-12 season, Drexel is now 45-24 at home against their foes from Wilmington, who still have a 79-75 advantage in the all-time head-to-head matchup.

After a lackluster first half in which Allen played just five minutes, Flint saw his guard’s increased playing time in the second half as a spark plug for the team’s offense.

“ [Terrell Allen] was out of the game, so that slowed our offense down,” Flint said of the first half. “We wanted to play at a faster pace [in the second half.]”

In his freshman season, Allen feels more confident on the floor than ever, which has helped contribute to this quick, late-season winning streak.

“I’m taking the open shots when they’re there and getting confidence in my jump shot,” Allen said. “I’m attacking the basket, finding others for easy baskets, and it helps the team a lot.

Allen, who was just named the conference’s rookie of the week, also sees a change in locker room morale. That change can only be boosted given this tough home victory over their conference rival.

“Everyone in the locker room has smiles on their faces. It’s great to see,” Allen said. “It’s always great to win.”

Flint also credited the improvement on offense to senior guard Tavon Allen, who came off the bench and contributed 34 strong minutes, shooting 7-for-12 from the field and finishing with 18 points.

After a disappointing stretch in the middle of the season, Flint hopes that the older Allen has finally found his stride. He has now scored in the double-digits in three consecutive games.

“There’s no magic formula. There was no sit-down talk,” Flint said. “ He knows what type of season he’s had, because it’s also the type of season we’ve had.”

Tavon Allen’s 18 points against Delaware helped him to reach 1,200 in his college career, which ranks 23rd in school history.  

Drexel’s graduate forward Kazembe Abif, who is finishing his college career this season alongside Tavon Allen, also contributed to the win with his sixth double-double of the season, and his second in a row.

“[Abif] has played pretty well [sic] all season,” Flint said of his team leader in rebounds.

The Blue Hens, meanwhile, will now enter next week’s conference tournament with the 10th seed as they sit at 2-15 in conference play.

This comes just two years after Delaware won the conference tournament as the top seed, and reflects a quick downward spiral for the program that coach Monté Ross wants to reverse.

“We’re not going to make excuses for anything,” Ross said. “We understand clearly what has happened to us this year.”

On the game, the Blue Hens were paced by senior Marvin King-Harris who recorded a game-high 24 points along with eight rebounds. Sophomore Kory Holden chimed in 18 points and seven assists of his own.

Even though Delaware's season thus far can be chalked up as a disappointment, the Blue Hens are still working away at a hope of of a strong finish.

“When you come to our practices, you don’t know what our record is,” Ross quoted a compliment his team was given. “That’s what I want our guys to stand for every day.”

Both teams will finish the regular season their respective home floors on Saturday, when Delaware hosts Elon and Drexel hosts Northeastern.  

The CAA conference tournament begins next Friday from the Royals Farms Arena in Baltimore.