In its last regular-season game, the Drexel men’s basketball team tipped off a mission of becoming the “hottest team in March,” earning a 71-61 win over visiting Monmouth. By beating the Hawks, Drexel avenged a double-overtime loss from Jan. 30, highlighting improvements that led to crucial late-season wins.
Before the game, the Dragons (17-14, 9-9 Coastal Athletic Association) celebrated Senior Night, with their sole honoree being Yame Butler. Fittingly, Butler led all scorers with 20 points, displaying his remarkable one-on-one scoring ability.
However, Butler’s ability to convert free throws has been what coach Zach Spiker calls a “sticking point” in the senior’s game. In Drexel’s losses, Butler is shooting 58% from the charity stripe, while he shoots 76% in wins.
Against the Hawks (12-9, 10-8)? Nearly flawless, as Butler finished 10-of-11 from the free-throw line.
Kobe MaGee and Shane Blakeney rounded out Drexel’s leading scorers with 15 and 11 points, respectively. Both players also played pivotal defensive roles, handling most of the workload against Monmouth’s explosive duo, Abdi Bashir Jr. (15 points) and Madison Durr (10).
In Drexel’s first meeting with the Hawks, Durr and Bashir scored 40 and 32 points, respectively; this time, the Dragons limited the duo to a combined 25 points on 30% shooting.
With the CAA tournament looming, Spiker was reluctant to reveal specific keys to their defensive success but conceded his team ”did a better job with [Durr]. He had 19 points from the foul line [in the first game]. He had four [today]. When MaGee guarded Bashir, I thought he made his quality of shot difficult.”
The first 30 minutes were frenetic, with neither team gaining much separation. That changed with 7 minutes, 34 seconds remaining, when Victor Panov hit two three-pointers in just over a minute, extending Drexel’s lead from one to seven.
After the game, Drexel players and coaches shared a common sentiment: They’re the hottest team in the CAA. Indeed, the Dragons are the only team entering the conference tournament on a four-game winning streak.
The streak began after a disappointing two-game road swing through Virginia, where Drexel lost to Hampton and William & Mary. Spiker called the road swing “a big inflection point of the season.”
“From that trip, I think we played better every game since then in a lot of ways,” Spiker said. “Everybody goes through tough times, every team does, whether it’s wins or losses. Tough times come and go, tough people stay, and we’ve got a program of tough people, and I draw strength from our staff and our players.”
Up next
Drexel heads to Washington for the CAA tournament and will play its first game on March 8. Drexel will play either the No. 8 or No. 9 team in the tournament, possibly Northeastern or Elon, in the first round.