Delaware Advances To CAA Tournament Semifinals With 66-56 Win Over Drexel

Sunday, March 6

Washington, DC

2:30 PM

University of Delaware

20-12,10-8CAA

Drexel

15-14,10-8CAA

Delaware

Drexel

Photo by: Mark Campbell

Delaware Advances To CAA Tournament Semifinals With 66-56 Win Over Drexel

3/6/2022 5:56:00 PM | Men's Basketball

Box Score Photo Gallery

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The fifth-seeded Delaware basketball team used a strong defensive effort to defeat fourth-seeded Drexel, 66-56, Sunday afternoon in the CAA Tournament Quarterfinals at the Entertainment & Sports Arena

The fifth-seeded Blue Hens, who secured the ninth 20-win season in program history, advance to the semifinals against top-seeded Towson on Monday at 6 p.m. on CBS Sports Network.

Delaware limited Drexel to just 37.9 percent shooting, including just 4 of 23 from three-point range. Camren Wynter paced the Dragons with 28 points, but no other Drexel player reached double figures.

Blue Hen freshman Jyare Davis, who received his CAA Rookie of the Year award prior to tip-off, posted team-highs of 17 points and 10 rebounds to record his third double-double of the season. Andrew Carr added 13 points and seven rebounds, while Jameer Nelson Jr. contributed 11 points on the day.

Delaware especially locked down Drexel in the opening half, holding the Dragons to just 25.9 percent shooting from the floor including 0 of 11 from three-point range.

The Blue Hens held a slim 14-12 lead with eight and a half minutes on the clock but then used a six-point run to extend the margin to eight. Delaware later went up 11 on a Nelson Jr. dunk, and following a Drexel bucket, Ryan Allen beat the buzzer with a driving layup to give UD a 27-16 cushion at the half.

Carr scored seven early points in the second half, while his basket in the paint increased Delaware's lead to 38-23 at the 16:10 mark. However the Dragons quickly answered by scoring the next 10 points, closing within 38-33 on a Mate Okros triple with 13 and a half minutes to play.

But Delaware countered with five straight points on an Allen layup and Nelson Jr. three-point play to push the margin back to double digits.

Coletrane Washington buried a three-pointer to bring the Dragons within 51-48 with five and a half minutes to play, but Kevin Anderson hit a three-pointer before Davis converted a pair of three-point plays to put Delaware up 12 with 2:18 on the clock.

Drexel scored the next two baskets to close the gap to eight with 52 seconds left, but would not get closer.

Martin Ingelsby
"This was a tough, physical game and I'm proud of our group for really competing on the defensive end. We were really locked in, we executed down the stretch and we're moving on. We made a lot of tough, gritty plays when we needed to. I'm proud of how we regrouped after a tough week. We got one, and now we have a heck of a challenge against a really good Towson team."

Gallery: (3-6-2022) MBB vs. Drexel

For the latest on the Delaware men's basketball program, follow the Blue Hens on Twitter and Instagram @DelawareMBB, and like "Delaware Men's Basketball" on Facebook.