It was Senior Night at the DAC. Drexel was looking to avenge a close 52 – 48 loss to Virginia Commonwealth in Richmond. Every game is critical at this part of the season. Drexel wanted a win not revenge. They got the win making 8 of 11 free throws in the last-minute to bring home a 64 – 60 victory. Senior Guard Gerald Colds knew getting the victory require a full forty minute effort.
“We knew last time we gave the game away down there,” said Colds. “We wanted to come in more focused and make sure we closed the game out at the end. We did that. They weren’t going to give up, and we weren’t going to give up wither. It was super competitive. Those wins are extra special.”
The first half was tightly contested as there were 7 ties and 6 lead changes. VCU led 28 – 25 with 3:11 left in the half. Drexel would get back to back three-point baskets by Sophomore Guard Derrick Thomas, then following a VCU turnover the Dragons scored on a dunk by Freshman Forward Dartaye Ruffin at the horn to complete an 8 – 0 run. Drexel took a 5 point lead into the locker room at 33 – 28. After halftime VCU came with more full court defensive pressure trying to force a faster pace. The Rams took the lead, but the Dragons regained the advantage at 49 – 47 on a basket by Junior Forward Sammie Givins with 6:40 to play.
“Pressure kills you when you panic and when you rush,” Drexel Coach Bruiser Flint said about how his team played against the VCU press. “If you don’t panic and you don’t rush, you’ll beat the pressure. I wanted us to make them pay for pressing us, get the ball and score some baskets. We did that at times.”
VCU tied the game at 49 Drexel got a big 3-Pointer from Thomas that started a 7 – 0 run to push their lead to 56 – 49 with 4:18 on the clock. That would be the last basket Drexel would make. Drexel held a 3 point lead at 56 – 53 with 1:38 to go. After Thomas missed a three it started a sequence where Ruffin pulled down offensive rebounds on 3 misses. His free throw started the Dragons converting 8 of 11 free throws down the stretch.
VCU did not go quietly. Trailing 61 – 57 with 19.6 ticks on the clock, the Rams took the ball down the court and got a 3 from Guard Joey Rodriguez at the 11.9 mark to cut the lead to one point. Thomas converted two more free throws with 10.9 to play. It was a one possession game. The ball went to Rodriguez. There was a scramble for the ball, and a foul called on Ruffin. Rodriguez missed the free throw, Ruffin rebounded, then made a free throw.
“We stepped up and made foul shots, and that’s what we needed to do to keep them at bay,” said Flint. “Rodriguez made an unbelievable three to cut it to one. We made a foul shot and got a rebound, and that was it right there.”
Drexel got their 19th win of the season against 9 losses, and appears to have secured the #5 seed in the CAA Tournament. Givins led all scorers with 18 points and 9 rebounds. Thomas scored 13 points, followed by Colds with 11. Forward Jamie Skeen scored a team-high, and Rodriguez added 10.
Key Run of the Game
VCU tied the game at 49 Drexel got a big 3-Pointer from Thomas that started a 7 – 0 run to push their lead to 56 – 49 with 4:18 on the clock. That would be the last basket Drexel would make. Drexel held a 3 point lead at 56 – 53 with 1:38 to go. After Thomas missed a three it started a sequence where Ruffin pulled down offensive rebounds on 3 misses. His free throw started the Dragons converting 8 of 11 free throws down the stretch.
Key Stat of the Game
Drexel made their free throws to end the game converting 8 of 11. Overall, Drexel made 19 of 28 free throws. VCU went to the foul line 15 times making 10.
Key Players in the Game
For Drexel – Sammie Givins led all scorers and rebounders with 18 points and 9 boards. Givins was 8 – 13 from the field, and was 2 – 3 from the line. The Junior Forward contributed 3 steals.
For VCU – Forward Jamie Skeen who had 17 points on 6 – 13 shooting and was a perfect 4 for 4 from the free throw line.
Point Where the Game Was Decided
After a missed free throw by Rodriquez, Drexel Forward Dartaye Ruffin pulled down the rebound and sank a free throw to put Drexel ahead by 4 with 2.8 seconds remaining.
Thoughts and Musings
It was senior night. It was a chance to honor Forward Yannick Formbor, Guard Gerald Colds, and Forward Ronald Colbert. After the game ended, the players made their way over to the Dac Pac and celebrated with the students, It was a magical moment. Coach Bruiser Flint said he hoped the evening would be memorable. From the look of the celebration, it was memorable.
Written By: Glenn Papazian
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